Six suspended provincial department chiefs have been paid more than R12 million for sitting at home for more than a year.
Tim Mokhesi, the Free State's chief of human settlements, is one of them, having been accused in the province's asbestos roof crisis.
In response to a parliamentary question from DA MP Mimmy Gondwe, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele stated this.
Gondwe questioned Gungubele on the number of provincial department heads on paid suspension, the reasons for each suspension, and the length of each suspension. She also inquired about the financial impact of the suspensions on taxpayers.
Six officials have been suspended, according to Gungubele, two from Mpumalanga, two from the Free State, one from the Northern Cape, and one from KwaZulu-Natal. While on suspension, they have earned a total of R12,256,227.
Sipho Mtakati, the head of the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, has been on precautionary suspension since May 2021, facing charges of tender irregularities. According to Gungubele, he has earned R1,978,533 since his suspension.
Kebone Masange, the chief of Mpumalanga's human settlements department, has been suspended since April 2021 on gross negligence accusations and has earned R1,308,568.
Busi Nkuna, the chief of Mpumalanga's community safety, security, and liaison department, has been on leave since June 2021. Nkuna is facing "charges connected to serious offence," according to Gungubele, and has been fined R1,196,064.
Ruth Palm, the Northern Cape's director of sports, arts, and culture, was suspended in September 2020 and fined R2,014,340 for "fraud accusations."
Gaster Sharpley, the chief of the KwaZulu-Natal public works department, was placed on precautionary suspension in November 2020 after being accused of impropriety in the recruitment of the consultant compliance officer.
"His continued precautionary suspension is due to the fact that the presiding officer made a judgement in favor of the employer during the recent hearings following the point in limine his legal representative had presented," Gungubele added. While on suspension, Sharpley had earned R2,346,238.
Source: Timeslive
