Dept of Military Veterans: Four officials SUSPENDED amid R119m probe

The Department of Military Veterans’ Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla has announced that four senior officials have been placed on precautionary suspension, pending the finalisation of  an investigation into irregular expenditure amounting to R119 million.

In a media briefing on Tuesday, 24 August 2021, Makwetla said the decision follows the Public Service Commission’s request to the then Acting Director General requesting information on consequence management in respect of irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure by the department.

“The suspended officials have also been informed that the Department will appoint service providers to commence with the investigations. The service provider will also be appointed ‘to attend to the implementation of the findings and recommendations of the investigation.’ In dealing with this matter expeditiously and efficiently the Department intends to adhere strictly to the prescribed sixty-day period (60 days) to bring the investigations to finality,” he said.

Military Veterans Dept addresses consequence management

Thabang Makwetla added that the Director-General Irene Mpolweni’s decision to suspend the officials is also intended to respond to the demands of consequence management as required by the PSC.

 “The Public Service Commission draws the attention of the department to the fact that in the Annual Report for the financial year 2019 / 2020 the Commission noted that the Department reported irregular expenditure amounting to R119 002 000.00, fruitless and wasteful expenditure to the tune of R5 084 000,” Makwetla said.

According to the deputy minister, the PSC noted that there was no indication of the Military Veterans Department taking action against officials behind the fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

“The Public Service Commission also makes the point that reports on financial misconduct submitted by the Department for the year 2019/2020 financial year to the PSC “does not reflect whether consequence management (disciplinary action) was /or will be imposed against the perpetrators that committed irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure”

Department of Military Veterans’ Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla

Makwetla added that in conclusion, both Mpolweni and the PSC agreed to collaborate to overcome the challenges facing the department.