Thursday, January 23, 2025

January 15, 2025

KZN Public Works Sues Ex-Official Over R1.1 Billion Scandal

Talk about playing fast and loose with taxpayers' hard-earned money. 

[Image: @edtea_kzn]

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has finally decided to take action against a former senior official whose dodgy decision-making ended up costing the department a jaw-dropping R1.1 billion.

Talk about playing fast and loose with taxpayers’ hard-earned money.

Musa William Zondi, who previously held the cushy title of supply chain management director at the Pietermaritzburg office, found himself on the wrong side of the gate last week. Following an investigation into his alleged antics, he was shown the door.

The department launched a probe in September last year after red flags popped up around the procurement of a consulting firm. Quick to act (for once), they suspended Zondi as the investigation kicked off.

Ironically, Zondi’s job description included spotting and mitigating risks, ensuring compliance, and preventing irregular expenditure during procurement. But it looks like he missed the memo.

As it turns out, the procurement file was about as complete as a puzzle missing half its pieces. Several key documents had mysteriously vanished, and to top it off, there were glaring mismatches between the services the department asked for and what actually landed on their plate.

Adding fuel to the fire, it’s alleged that Zondi conveniently forgot to implement the necessary checks and balances or ensure a fair playing field when awarding contracts.

The investigation uncovered that one consulting firm managed to snag a whopping 29 contracts worth a staggering R1.1 billion. Yes, you read that right – over a billion rand handed to a single company.

This move essentially turned the firm into the unofficial kingpin of KZN Public Works contracts, with no competition in sight. Monopoly, much?

Zondi is now set to face criminal charges after a case was registered with the South African Police Service (Saps), per The Citizen.

The KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer emphasised the department’s commitment to rooting out corruption.

“In addition, the department has also laid criminal charges against three more senior officials who are suspected of corruption and financial malfeasance,” the department said on Tuesday.

“These developments come against the backdrop when the department was strengthening its corruption whistle-blower hotline and strengthening internal financial controls,” the statement further reads.

The department has assured the public that it will “fully cooperate with all law enforcement agencies” by providing all the evidence needed. Let’s hope they don’t conveniently misplace these documents too!

[Source: Citizen]

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