Former MEC told she must cough up
Bopape ‘surprised’ at allegations
FORMER Gauteng MEC for Arts, Sport, Culture and Recreation, Molebatsi Bopape, has been ordered to pay the Gauteng provincial government R91 000 for excess in security upgrades that were done at her Pretoria home.
Bopape was also found guilty of interfering in the procurement processes. A forensic report found she had influenced the awarding of tenders while she was MEC.
This was revealed by the Gauteng provincial director-general, Phindile Baleni, on Friday when she outlined measures undertaken to resolve the breakdown of the relationship between Bopape and her former head of department, Namhla Siqaza.
Baleni said the forensic investigation had found the provincial government suffered losses of more than R373 000 for security upgrades at Bopape’s home. Security upgrades were not supposed to be in excess of R100 000. She said they would also recover the money from other officials who had processed the upgrades.
Baleni said a forensic investigation was instituted after it was found there were divisions in the department and the senior management team was divided into groups – one supporting the MEC and the other supporting the HOD.
“The MEC (Bopape) interfered in supply chain management processes and often questioned the decision of the Department Acquisition Council (DAC). The working relationship between the MEC and HOD had irretrievably broken down.”
This prompted the premier to conduct a forensic investigation. “Investigators found there were breaches of regulations in respect of procurement processes, public financial management and human resources. Breach of supply chain processes occurred on at least three occasions, including irregular awarding of a tender for protection and security services and incurring fruitless and wasteful expenditure by appointing a company to perform a function not in the department’s plans. She also shifted funds to certain functions without seeking permission from the treasury department.
“Human resource procedures were flouted in the appointment of several staff members, including senior management positions. It was also found the MEC unlawfully interfered in the supply chain process, leading to the irregular appointment of a service provider in at least one matter,” Baleni said.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura was expected to reveal the sanction on Bopape when tabling his political statement on Tuesday in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
Bopape recently accused Makhura of protecting Siqaza, whom she said had strong backing in Makhura’s executive. She had also expressed surprise at Makhura’s failure to summon her to explain the allegations of corruption levelled against her.