Former fraud accused new HOD of Safety and Security

MBOMBELA – A former fraud-accused government employee has been appointed as the new head of the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL). The appointment of Mr William Mthombothi to the position was announced by the premier’s cabinet last week.

Mr Madala Masuku, outgoing MEC for finance, said he was very happy with the appointment since he had seen Mthombothi in action over the past few months while he was acting as head of the department since the resignation of HOD Mr Thulani Sibuyi in October.

Sibuyi resigned after allegedly being caught driving under the influence in Gauteng, shortly after being apprehended for fraud. His trial alongside co-accused Mr Vusi Stevens Mashaba is set to start in September.

Prior to his appointment, Mthombothi held senior positions in the provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport. However, it had not been without controversy. In 2003 he was suspended from his position as acting HOD after his arrest by the former Scorpions on charges related to the alleged irregular awarding of government tenders.

African Eye News reported that a government-commissioned forensic investigation had fingered him for irregularly approving a series of dodgy multimillion-rand deals that benefited various companies owned by Mpumalanga insurance tycoon Mr Walter Senoko. Mail & Guardian had reported that the charge sheet stated Mthombothi failed to take effective steps to prevent unauthorised and irregular expenditure by accepting guarantees from one company on behalf of another. The state also blamed him for releasing money exceeding R5 million without treasury approval and failing to seek that of the provincial tender board before he released the money.

Mthombothi was reinstated following his suspension for the duration of the internal investigation, which was found in his favour. In 2007 he was found guilty on the fraud charges in a criminal court but the High Court of Appeals overturned the findings the same year.

He has now been appointed in the DCSSL on a three-year contract and is to remain on probation for 12 months.