Action to be taken against ‘corrupt’ officials in Giyani Water Project
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in consultation with National Treasury is to take action against officials found to have been involved in corrupt activities in the multi-million rand Giyani Water Project.
The newly appointed Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni has asked Director General of the National Treasury to work with the DWS to ensure that appropriate action is taken against all guilty officials implicated in the Auditor General’s report.
Officials are accused of disregarding supply chain rules and poor contract management, resulting in irregular expenditure. According to Mboweni, the Giyani Water Project, which cost the Government more than it was budgeted for, has been plagued with wrong doing.
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“It is a cesspool of corruption. The challenges range from a complete disregard for supply chain rules to poor contract management, resulting in irregular expenditure. It is clear that a new delivery and financing model is required to provide water services to communities,” Mboweni said in a statement.
Mboweni said a key element of the new approach will be a stronger focus on project management and contract governance to ensure that projects, such as the Giyani Water Project, are fit for purpose and maximise value for money in the water sector.
“I have asked the Director General of the National Treasury to work with the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure that appropriate action is taken against all guilty officials implicated in the Auditor General’s report. The President has informed me that he will go to Giyani to see exactly what has happened and what needs to be done,” he said.
