A public hearing has revealed shocking developments within the Limpopo department of education, where supply chain officials and companies contracted to advertise tenders have been doing as they please without consequences.
The provincial standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) heard how some officials signed off tenders at their own discretion, disbursing monies that were notapproved by the head of the Limpopo department (HOD) Onica Dederen and the chief financial officer.
Scopa members also questioned how a scholar transport tender was not advertised for 21 days in line with public finance rules. To make matters worse, it transpired that three officials connected to signing off the tender were not disciplined simply because a director within the department allegedly forgot to issue them with the charges they were supposed to face.
MEC of Limpopo education Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya and Dederen blamed the department’s dysfunctional processes on forgetfulness, incompetence and lack of knowledge.
“What actually happened was that the chief director clearly indicated that these officials did not receive the letters, which were signed by the HOD and were supposed to be transmitted to the three officials in his directorate.
“One of his directors had not actually referred those charges against the three officials.
“As the report clearly indicates, it was an omission from one of the officials because that section is really busy and the official really forgot to hand over the letters,” said Dederen.
She explained the letters were finally handed over following the department’s previous appearance before Scopa when action was demanded.
“You also clearly indicated that we are saying that the implementing agency did not advertise the tender for 21 days and that we should take the blame. Yes, we do take the blame, but what happened here is that by the time we realised they had done it, that was already a done deal,” Dederen said.
The Limpopo department was not done shocking Scopa members, who also asked why they failed to charge Sekhukhune district officials who issued contracts worth over R100 000 without going to tender.
“Let me just say that we did not charge the officials.
“When we had engagements with these officials, we realised that they did not really know that if they only adjudicate on one quotation they have to request a deviation from the accounting officer.
“Because we thought it was not a deliberate action, we felt that instead of us [taking] punitive measures, we have to assist them to understand how this process works.”
Scopa member Tshilidzi Maraga questioned why the Sekhukhune officials did not know the law that governs the work they do.
“Your response is that they were not aware, but are they not trained? In other words, didn’t you induct them or is this not incompetence?
“Honourable MEC, you have to tell me the truth if you think your HOD is [fit] to be in office. What we have here [indicates] that your HOD should have gone to pension by now due to her age and leave the office to the youngsters,(sic), ” said Maraga.
Another committee member, Rudolf Phala, labelled the Limpopo department’s responses “scandalous”.
“What happened to the official who sat on the letters?
Ignorance of the law is punishable in law,” said Phala.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
