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The Portfolio Committee Water Affairs has flagged the problem of government officials accused of corruption and fraud who escape disciplinary proceedings by simply resigning from their jobs.
 
Members of the committee made this observation during a briefing from the Department of Water and Sanitation on the status of disciplinary hearings and cases investigated by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
 
The committee found it unacceptable that some disciplinary proceedings were closed before completion due to the resignation or retirement of implicated officials. They questioned this practice and recommended changes to the laws and regulations that allow accused officials to avoid accountability by simply changing jobs. The committee said it cannot be acceptable that people resign in the middle of the disciplinary process and are then absolved.
 
After labelling most of the department’s responses to the members’ questions, the committee resolved to hold a workshop to thoroughly discuss the backlog of disciplinary cases in the department and in its water resource entities. The department, the SIU and the National Prosecutions Authority will be invited to the workshop to discuss the issue.
 
Cases investigated by the SIU include several acts of misconduct relating to the irregular appointment of service providers, manipulation of the payment system, payment for work not done, irregular contract extensions, overpriced goods and services, and contravention of section 217 of the Constitution, among other things.
 
Departmental official Ms Nthabiseng Fundakubi told the committee that some of the delays in disciplinary hearings were caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the department’s control, such as illness.
 
The Minister of Water and Sanitation Minister, Ms Pemmy Majodina, said the department has historically been affected by financial mismanagement, irregular expenditure and weak governance, which have undermined its core mandate of delivering water and sanitation services. She told the committee that the ministry has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption and is committed to restoring the department’s credibility.
 
She said consequence management is being enforced with sanctions, including suspensions, dismissals and, where appropriate, criminal prosecutions. On concerns about delays, she told the committee that although it appears that there is limited progress on disciplinary cases, the department has strengthened its capacity and is ensuring that all of them are handled in a just and fair manner.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, Leonard Basson