Limpopo Legislature secretary suspended over alleged misconduct
Limpopo Legislature Secretary Dr Timothy Maake has been suspended amid allegations of financial misconduct and tender irregularities.
LIMPOPO – The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) in Limpopo has welcomed the decision to place the Secretary of the Limpopo Legislature, Dr Timothy Matshakutu Maake, on immediate precautionary suspension.
The suspension was announced yesterday (Wednesday, July 1) by Legislature Speaker Dr Makoma Makhurupetja, and comes amid mounting allegations of financial misconduct and tender irregularities.
NEHAWU demands investigation
In a statement, NEHAWU revealed it had formally written to the Speaker on June 23, demanding an urgent investigation into what it described as the “looting of the legislature budget under her nose through law firms.”
The union expressed deep disappointment in Maake’s alleged conduct, stating that if found true, his actions have severely compromised the integrity of the provincial law-making body.
“A secretary of a Legislature should behave in a manner that creates public trust, confidence, and protects the integrity of the Legislature. Every decision that the Secretary takes must solely be in terms of public interest and without regard to personal, financial, or other material benefit to themselves, their immediate family, business partners, or friends,” NEHAWU said.
The allegations
The union has brought forward a list of specific financial allegations against the suspended Secretary, which are now expected to form the bedrock of the formal investigation:
| Allegation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Conference payments during an ANC provincial conference | R3.8 million |
| Duplicate payments for the same services | R1.5 million |
| Irregular budget shifts | R7 million |
| Payments for work never performed (ghost invoices) | – |
| Payments to law firms already terminated by the legislature | R63 000 |
Speaker defends suspension
Last Wednesday, responding to the crisis in a media briefing, Makhurupetja defended the legislative administration and later maintained that the precautionary suspension was necessary to ensure a fair, unhindered, and transparent investigation.
Acting Secretary appointed
Dr Isaac Nkuna has since been appointed as the Acting Secretary while the formal independent investigation into Dr Maake’s conduct gets underway.
