IN A move that irked the opposition, Mpumalanga public works MEC Dikeledi Mahlangu has given the department head a reprieve.
Mahlangu's office says she will not to pursue disciplinary action for alleged financial mismanagement against department head Kgopane Mohlasedi.
Last week Sowetan reported that five months after the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) in the province ordered that he be disciplined for wasting more than R4-million, no punitive action had been taken against Mohlasedi.
Department spokesman David Nkambule said: "The department sought a legal opinion from the state attorney on the matter and the opinion received concludes that the disciplinary process could not be sustained.
"MEC Dikeledi Mahlangu considers the matter closed, based on the advice."
Earlier this year, Mohlasedi was at the centre of a dispute between Premier David Mabuza and former public works MEC Clifford Mkasi.
Mkasi had wanted to suspend Mohlasedi after Scopa had pointed out irregularities in the department's financial affairs.
The irregular expenditure, discovered by auditor-general Terence Nombembe was allegedly caused when R4.233-million was paid for offices that were never used by the province.
But before any action could be taken, Mabuza removed Mkasi from the public works portfolio to the department of health in a cabinet reshuffle.
He replaced him with Mahlangu.
Two months later Mahlangu was yet to have taken any action against Mohlasedi and in June her office said she was still studying the report.
Sowetan has requested a copy of the legal opinion authorities claim was the basis for Mahlangu's decision not to pursue charges against Mohlasedi.
MEC spokesman Mpho Gabashane said this was a matter that required Mahlangu's attention.
"I can only answer authoritatively once I have spoken to her," Gabashane said yesterday.
"This is a scandalous disgrace," DA leader Anthony Benadie said.
"It confirms and exposes Premier Mabuza's motives behind the cabinet shuffle and proves that MEC Mahlangu has come to fulfil Mabuza's mandate, to make the charges go away.
"If . legal advice from the state law adviser (was) that no charges could be sustained, why did they not just say so, why the cabinet shuffle and why the delay."
Public works closes door on wasted R4m
IN A move that irked the opposition, Mpumalanga public works MEC Dikeledi Mahlangu has given the department head a reprieve.
Mahlangu's office says she will not to pursue disciplinary action for alleged financial mismanagement against department head Kgopane Mohlasedi.
Last week Sowetan reported that five months after the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) in the province ordered that he be disciplined for wasting more than R4-million, no punitive action had been taken against Mohlasedi.
Department spokesman David Nkambule said: "The department sought a legal opinion from the state attorney on the matter and the opinion received concludes that the disciplinary process could not be sustained.
"MEC Dikeledi Mahlangu considers the matter closed, based on the advice."
Earlier this year, Mohlasedi was at the centre of a dispute between Premier David Mabuza and former public works MEC Clifford Mkasi.
Mkasi had wanted to suspend Mohlasedi after Scopa had pointed out irregularities in the department's financial affairs.
The irregular expenditure, discovered by auditor-general Terence Nombembe was allegedly caused when R4.233-million was paid for offices that were never used by the province.
But before any action could be taken, Mabuza removed Mkasi from the public works portfolio to the department of health in a cabinet reshuffle.
He replaced him with Mahlangu.
Two months later Mahlangu was yet to have taken any action against Mohlasedi and in June her office said she was still studying the report.
Sowetan has requested a copy of the legal opinion authorities claim was the basis for Mahlangu's decision not to pursue charges against Mohlasedi.
MEC spokesman Mpho Gabashane said this was a matter that required Mahlangu's attention.
"I can only answer authoritatively once I have spoken to her," Gabashane said yesterday.
"This is a scandalous disgrace," DA leader Anthony Benadie said.
"It confirms and exposes Premier Mabuza's motives behind the cabinet shuffle and proves that MEC Mahlangu has come to fulfil Mabuza's mandate, to make the charges go away.
"If . legal advice from the state law adviser (was) that no charges could be sustained, why did they not just say so, why the cabinet shuffle and why the delay."
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