More parliamentary officials suspended

PARLIAMENT has been rocked by more suspensions of senior officials, just three months after two top security officials were suspended.

It was announced yesterday that five officials had been put on precautionary suspension pending a probe into tender irregularities. But Parliament has not named the officials concerned or the amounts involved in the procurement process. The latest suspensions come three months after head of security Zelda Holtzman and her deputy, Motlatsi Mokgatla, were suspended over security breaches.

The investigation against the security chiefs has been completed and Parliament has been given the draft report. The probe against Holtzman and Motlatsi found there had been security breaches, failure to carry out management responsibilities and insubordination.

The two suspended officials would be given the report for their comment before Parliament decided on a course of action. It has been reported that the two security chiefs had opposed the recruitment of police officers to work as protection officers in Parliament.

The new protection officers are responsible for the ejection of disruptive MPs following a series of incidents in Parliament involving the EFF. Parliament adopted new rules in July which allow the protection officers to eject rowdy MPs.

Also yesterday, Parliament dismissed claims that it was on a witchhunt against people who were leaking information to the media.