THE Limpopo department of roads and transport's acting general manager for roads infrastructure Saracen Mojapelo has been suspended on allegations of misconduct.

Mojapelo's suspension came into effect on Monday pending investigations.

Head of department Ntau Letebele said the purpose of the investigations will be to establish the veracity "and otherwise" of the allegations and to recommend an appropriate course of action "if necessary".

Mojapelo was suspended on allegations of corruption among others.

He had also allegedly failed to release tenders for the roads infrastructure projects.

It is alleged that he was supposed to have issued tenders last Friday.

This was a due date set down by the department but he ignored it.

Instead, an official in the department is alleged to have overhead Mojapelo calling his associates, alerting them about the tenders because he did not want to advertise openly.

"In order to enable a proper investigation to take place, it was necessary to place Mojapelo on precautionary suspension so as to avoid any interference with the investigation," Letebele said.

He said a precautionary suspension did not in any way imply that Mojapelo was guilty of any misconduct.

Mojapelo would be afforded an opportunity to respond to the allegations, he said.

Letebele said Isak Kriel, the senior manager for roads maintenance, has been appointed acting general manager "with immediate effect".

Kriel's immediate task would be to ensure the fast tracking of service delivery in the routine and preventative maintenance programmes of the department, he said.

He said Kriel would also oversee the work of the project management unit, which was appointed recently to assist the department to manage roads infrastructure projects.