By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Department of Health continues to be marred with corruption, fraud, and maladministration. This comes after four senior officials were suspended for tender irregularities recently.
Two Directors attached to Infrastructure Development Technical Support Chief Directorate unit were suspended on 23 April 2020 for the alleged asymmetrical payments worth over R10 million to the service provider arising from a bid for additions and alterations to existing Mmabatho Nursing College including all related site works.
North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “It is alleged that the said officials within the Infrastructure Development and Technical Support (IDTS) facilitated irregular insertion of the “Contract Price Adjustment Provision”, which resulted in the contractor undue enrichment in payments.
“The principal building agreement for construction works at Mmabatho Nursing College commenced on 2 November 2015. The value estimated on this matter is amounting to R10 959 472-35 excluding VAT of adjustment/escalation was paid illegally.”
He said in the latest matter, the other two senior officials involve the department’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Director responsible for Supply Chain Management. Lekgethwane added that those officials have been suspended due to the allegations of Supply Chain Management irregularities.
“This arises from the security tender. The appointment letter of the successful bidders allegedly contained the prices which materially varied from what those bidders had bid for thus inflating prices and causing the department serious financial loss.
“The value of the financial loss is not yet known as investigations are to start after their suspension. The department wishes to state that the suspension of these officials is not a conclusion that they are guilty. The suspension intends to allow the department to investigate the above allegations as they are of a serious nature,” said Lekgethwane.
The officials will remain suspended until the investigations and disciplinary hearings against them are completed, says Lekgethwane.
The Guardian 