Wally Mbhele and Evidence wa ka Ngobeni
The commissioner of correctional services, Khulekani Sitole, is embroiled in a new scandal following accusations that he has used more than R1,2-million of the department’s money to fund a lucrative scholarship he named after himself.
The Department of Correctional Services says it has already spent R1-million of the R26-million budgeted for training on the scholarship.
This new allegation against Sitole is contained in a document drafted by the Correctional Staff Forum submitted to Parliament’s public accounts committee and the portfolio committee on correctional services.
“Recently, the Khulekani Sitole Scholarship was established by himself in conjunction with Jackson State University. An impression was created that the university and Commissioner Sitole have raised funds privately to fund this venture.
“But it has now emerged that more than R1,2-million from the department’s coffers which had not been budgeted for this scholarship has been used to cover costs for eight scholarship recipients who are now in the United States.”
Explaining the scholarship, a departmental publication, Nexus, says in addition to his involvement in human rights, Sitole “has also proved beyond doubt that he is committed to the education and training of personnel”.
The publication describes Sitole as an “achiever extraordinaire” whose success can be attributed to his “tenacity, dedication and hard work”. It says the commissioner took cognisance of the fact that remedial measures had to be put in place to address the problem of lack of training and skills in correctional services.
“Commissioner Sitole, whose alma mater is Jackson University, approached Dr Ally Mack and Dr Lyons of this state university. Aggressive fund raising was initiated by Commissioner Sitole.
“The joint venture gave birth to the Khulekani Sitole Scholarship. The recipients of the scholarship will do a two-year masters degree in criminal justice system.”
The announcement of the successful candidates was made at a Millennium and Beyond function which was held at the Pretoria Management Area Hall where Minister of Correctional Services Ben Skosana praised Sitole’s scholarship.
According to Nexus, the masters programme will run for five years for 50 students while another 200 students will also attend “a short five-year course”.
The new allegations against Sitole come as Parliament’s public accounts committee prepares to summon him for further questioning regarding other allegations of “mismanagement”.