Wonder Hlongwa
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has been forced to sack or discipline about 20 staff members in the last year for offences ranging from poor work performance and drunkenness to fraud and rape.
Equipment valued at thousands of rand, including cars, computers and cellphones, has been stolen or abused in this time and many commission employees have fraudulently claimed money they were not entitled to. An investigator was sacked after being found guilty of rape and indecent assault of a minor.
The Mail & Guardian is in the possession of a document that lists of some of these offences, the names of 22 staff members concerned and the outcome of disciplinary procedures – most often dismissal or resignation.
The most senior staffer on the list is Loyiso Mpumlwana, former regional head of the commission’s East London office. He faced 10 charges of poor work performance, was found guilty on eight charges, but “resigned before sanction was passed”, according to the document.
However, most staff members were dismissed after inquiries into their poor work performance. Although some of them faced additional charges of abuse of equipment or “unbecoming behaviour” and drunkenness at work, only three staff members have been found guilty of fraud.
But many were axed after misusing motor vehicles and other equipment. One was dismissed after using the commission’s international courier service for personal mail.
Staffers who were found guilty of fraudulent or unauthorised expenditure were ordered to reimburse the commission. Those who presented fraudulent degrees or misrepresented themselves were dismissed.
The disciplinary action took place at the commission’s Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and East London offices.
Commission representative John Allen said the organisation had 400 staffers and it was “normal” in a body that size that 22 people were disciplined and dismissed.
“We are accountable to Parliament. If people do not perform up to standard we have to take action against them,” Allen said.
At the Durban commission offices, at least one car, two computers and four cellular phones were stolen. “I can’t say the cellular phones were stolen, because in some instances staffers lose them, like forgetting them at the airport,” said the commission’s Kwazulu-Natal regional manager, Wendy Watson.
Staff members at the office claim expenses are far higher than they should be, as claims were made for overnight accommodation in Pietermaritzburg, 90km from Durban.
“Two staffers went to Hammersdale for a day, which is only 60km away but claimed money, saying they had to stay overnight.” Watson said she was not aware of this claim, but Satchie Govender, head of investigations, said they had been paid. “We have a system whereby, when people travel to do investigations and stay overnight, they make claims and are paid,” Govender said.
Staff members claim theft in commission offices was not only a financial loss, but a serious breach of security as well.
A memorandum sent to Durban staffers following the theft of computers valued at R24 000 said: “The contents [of the computer] are the results of investigations, and are confidential. People’s lives could be endangered by access to this information. We will, in future, lock the foyer doors outside office hours.”