PUBLIC outcry over the use of R240000 of taxpayers' money to fund the funeral of a chief executive of a parastatal, the SA Diamond and Precious Metal Regulator, is justified.
No amount of justification can explain away the inappropriateness of the decision to finance the private funeral of Louis Selekane, who died in an accident in 2009, from the public purse.
The expenditure not only sets a bad precedence but also raises questions about the SADPMR board members' judgment in matters relating to corporate governance.
The question is: what was the basis for this decision? Did the board ask for donations to recoup the money once the scandal came into the open? Again, what prompted the board to want to recover the amount?
Suspicion is that the board may have moved to recoup the money soon after questions were asked. Still, it remains a mystery how the board accounted for the alleged donations from individuals or companies in its books?
The matter should not be allowed to rest until Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu gives a breakdown on how the money was used.
For all we care, we would not be surprised if a large part of the donation towards the funeral costs was spent on laying the red carpet for government officials, Selekane's fellow board members and other VIPs.
Needless to say, the whole episode smells to high heaven and smacks of unmitigated extravagance. The SADPMR board must resign.
This board must resign
PUBLIC outcry over the use of R240000 of taxpayers' money to fund the funeral of a chief executive of a parastatal, the SA Diamond and Precious Metal Regulator, is justified.
No amount of justification can explain away the inappropriateness of the decision to finance the private funeral of Louis Selekane, who died in an accident in 2009, from the public purse.
The expenditure not only sets a bad precedence but also raises questions about the SADPMR board members' judgment in matters relating to corporate governance.
The question is: what was the basis for this decision? Did the board ask for donations to recoup the money once the scandal came into the open? Again, what prompted the board to want to recover the amount?
Suspicion is that the board may have moved to recoup the money soon after questions were asked. Still, it remains a mystery how the board accounted for the alleged donations from individuals or companies in its books?
The matter should not be allowed to rest until Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu gives a breakdown on how the money was used.
For all we care, we would not be surprised if a large part of the donation towards the funeral costs was spent on laying the red carpet for government officials, Selekane's fellow board members and other VIPs.
Needless to say, the whole episode smells to high heaven and smacks of unmitigated extravagance. The SADPMR board must resign.
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