Political patronage, family jobs - and high phone bills
Report details rot in Limpopo education department
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The Limpopo education department spent R25 million a year on phone bills, and its financial systems were in a state of “decay”, The Star reported on Friday.
It further contravened financial laws by splitting a multi-million rand tender into smaller ones of R500,000 each to avoid a bidding process, according to a 47-page report authored by the department’s former administrator, Anis Karodia.
The Star reported that according to the document, the department was “top-heavy”, some senior managers had no relevant qualifications and were in their jobs because of “political patronage”.
The report was presented to members of the National Council of Provinces on their four-day fact-finding mission to Limpopo in March.
According to Karodia the department went bankrupt due to a culture of nepotism and clock-watching.
There were “family ties and friendships from the very top”.
There was no oversight by MEC Dickson Masemola, department head Morebudi Thamaga, chief financial officer Martin Mashaba, or senior management.
Staff captured staff allowances on the BSA IT system, used to capture goods, rather than Persal, used for staff information, to evade paying tax.
A total of 1,806 cellphones were issued, costing about R1 million a month, and the same amount for the landlines.
“This means that the cellphone and landline usage per year is in the region of R25 million,” according to the report.
Limpopo education department spokesman told The Star: “The MEC challenged the authenticity of the report and the unsubstantiated allegations presented by Dr Karodia... Up to date those allegations were never substantiated.”
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga fired Karodia in May.
The department went bankrupt in September last year and was placed under administration in December.
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Tsek
ok........Report Abuse
Voetzek
This mampara story is starting to get to my nerves now, bloody agent editor dont you have someting to write, shame on you.Report Abuse
Idohl
For twenty years I have been applaying for a job with a degree in that department and I'm still unemployed, all these departments in Limpopo are the same. You always wont qualify, either you dont have ANC membership, are not related to someone, are not Shangaan, Pedi, Venda etc. You just dont qualify, even for a driver position I tell you. What a rotten province.Report Abuse
sh!tFaceSamsung
some1 has to bite te dust: welcome to SA alive with posibilitiesyah noh yalo te catoon ki!l me big time : i like it
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Fingaz
The question we should ask is what did he do in an attempt to stop this embezlement. Nothing.......possibly he had his cut and felt it was not enough. so he decided to trumpet.Report Abuse
16-12-1838
Such a massive and far reaching problem, the fallout from this is inconceivable as just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine.This mindset and institutional incompetence is going to affect the country for decades to come, even IF we started improving things and initiating changes from tomorrow...fat fukn chance!
Who in their right mind, besides those with all the wrong intentions, would like to take over from the current bunch of imbeciles? It is an impossible task to turn this mess around and can you imagine...where do you start? Engaging reverse gear on this disaster would cause the whole country to grind to a halt as all the lazy, arrogant and incompetent public sector workers constantly toyi-toyi and destroy everything in sight. That is if there IS anything left after all the violence that will erupt if the anc ever lost power!
Doomed if we do, doomed if we don't! It seems we are forever cursed with an endless cycle of sad history, jumping from the frying pan and into the fire! - Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
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ApelMankotsana
You see..People like Dr.Karodia are the ones to be charged with abbeting or been a passive accessory to theft and corruption in that department. He has been employed in that department and has witnessed or saw things which were going wrong but decided to keep mum...And now that he has been fired he then decides it's time to spill the beans. He was there and could have shouted when seeing that things are not going alright.Report Abuse
maditaba
"Staff captured staff allowances on the BSA IT system, used to capture goods, rather than Persal, used for staff information, to evade paying tax."Firstly it is BAS system and secondly certain allowance types must be captured on this system. It depends on how the allowance is classified.
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BraSipho
If the good Dr opened his mouth while in the job, he would have been fired!There is no protection for people who "blow the whistle" so what was he to do?
The problem is that the people in the department are all friends and family stealing from the poor just like national goverment does.
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golly459
IdohlFor twenty years I have been applaying for a job with a degree in that department and I'm still unemployed, all these departments in Limpopo are the same. You always wont qualify, either you dont have ANC membership, are not related to someone, are not Shangaan, Pedi, Venda etc. You just dont qualify, even for a driver position I tell you. What a rotten province
====================Very true! any post from the department that say limpopo i just leave it lyk dat.
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