The woes of the Northern Cape’s Department of Roads and Public Works are still in the spotlight after the Hawks obtained a final forfeiture order against its suspended former chief financial officer (CFO), Bradley Slingers (58), on Thursday, 7 November.
Its head of department (HOD), Johnnie MacKay, was charged for contravening the Pension Funds Act (PFA) in his time as the acting municipal manager of the Kai !Garib Municipality.
Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi says Slingers was arrested on 16 November 2023 at a roadblock outside Kimberley on the N12, where he was found transporting cash amounting to R200 000 in his vehicle.
“While searching the vehicle, the police discovered three other bags containing cash. An amount of R679 200 was recovered from his vehicle. The accused was unable to provide proof or a reasonable explanation for the money that was found in his possession.
“The police seized the money and an inquiry docket was opened for investigation,” Mnisi says.
‘Failing to execute on its mandate’
In her consolidated general audit report for the 2022-’23 financial year, the auditor-general, Tsakani Maluleke, said the Department of Roads and Public Works, “as an implementing agent in the province, should be managing infrastructure projects like schools, but is failing to execute on its mandate and is incurring irregular expenditure concerning the user departments. While the Health and Education departments do not have the skills required to manage the projects themselves, Roads and Public Works does not have the capacity to assist them.
“To simplify accountability for these infrastructure projects, provincial leadership should capacitate the Department of Roads and Public Works to deliver on its mandate, and move the budget for Health and Education projects to the department.
Maluleke said these three departments did not address their continued supply chain management weaknesses, nor hold officials accountable to prevent irregular expenditure.
Some departments also did not investigate irregular expenditure, which made it difficult for them to determine losses, assign responsibility and implement consequences.
Harold McGluwa, DA provincial chairperson, said in a statement they reiterate their call on the premier, Dr Zamani Saul, to act decisively against all incidents of corruption, fraud, and maladministration in provincial government.
“The DA acknowledges actions taken by the provincial MEC of Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, to place Slingers on precautionary suspension. This cash-in-transit situation demands urgent investigation.
“HOD MacKay is also facing criminal charges, yet he remains in his post.”
