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Top government officials facing graft probe

R60 million allegedly splurged on Confed Cup and 2010 Soccer World Cup fun

TOP government officials, including three former heads of department at the North West department of sport, arts and culture, are facing a probe after they were implicated in a forensic audit report.

The department yesterday revealed it had lost about R60-million as officials allegedly took advantage of the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup.

Details are expected to be made public today when MEC Hlomane Chauke addresses the media. The province hosted some of the matches during the two events.

According to the report, former heads of department Irene Mpolweni, Sam Mokaila and Victor Mogajane, chief financial officer Hannilie Moller, supply chain manager Goodwin Mothusi and communications director Shirley Montsho spent the money on tickets, accommodation, catering and procurement of T-shirts for the two soccer tournaments.

Department spokesman Abe Mogashoa said Mpolweni and Mokaila had now left the department, while the other four are suspended pending disciplinary action against them.

He said a total of 566 financial misconducts by 41 staff members had been unravelled by Derscha Forensic Investigation.

"A list of charges are on the cards, with some of the involved carrying up to 166 each one of them," he said. The forensic investigation was commissioned by Chauke last year as he sought to sniff out corruption in the department.

Responding to the findings, Chauke said he was shocked and asked all those who might know more of these misdemeanours to come forward and inform his office.

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