Expenses on fired DDG ‘shocking’

THE Office of the Premier’s legislature portfolio committee has reacted with shock after learning that provincial treasury has spent millions of rands defying court orders to reinstate their fired deputy director-general Mendoa Dukada.

Treasury accused Dukada of defying orders to release money for the payment of doctors and teachers in the province in 2012.

She had argued that the proper processes were not followed, was subsequently suspended and later fired from her post in 2014.

Despite Dukada successfully challenging her dismissal with a high court ruling that she be reinstated, the department has paid legal fees to 10 lawyers over a period of five years fighting to keep her out. Portfolio committee chairman Sicelo Gqobana said the matter was of concern as government was trying to cut costs on spending.

“If this is happening at treasury, the same department that is supposed to monitor government spending, what about the other departments,” Gqobana said.

He said the department was not setting a good impression to the public. “I am going to engage the premier to answer about this on Friday [today]. We can’t be fighting our personal vendettas using the state’s money,” he said.

Gqobana said it was clear that “someone abused powers and used state money, millions of rands, to fight this poor woman”.

He said the judiciary should be respected all the time. “The position is to respect the judiciary. If we review, the executive member should be aware and sign for that and if we feel that we are not going to win this, we don’t challenge it,” Gqobana said. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za