The Heath unit is set to investigate irregularities at Technikon SA estimated to amount to about R60-million, reports Ivor Powell
With his institution in chaos, the principal of Technikon SA gave himself a 35% salary increase, pushing it up to around R1,5-million per year. Attie Buitendacht neglected to seek the governing council’s approval for this boost, leading to the resignation of council chair Marietta Marx de Villiers.
Undaunted, Buitendacht then paid himself and four of his deputies a performance bonus of R25 000 in a single month last year.
Buitendacht – a protg of former National Party Cabinet minister and Broederbond kingpin Gerrit Viljoen – allegedly also receives some surprising perks in his job. Included in the list are the payment of his rates and taxes by the technikon, gardening services and private security at his home, and a basic transport allowance of R180 000 a year.
The principal’s package is one of nearly 100 alleged irregularities in the giant distance learning institution which were referred earlier this year to the Heath special investigating unit.
Sources inside the technikon – which runs on an annual budget of around R500-million – said the alleged improprieties could add up to more than R100-million. The Mail & Guardian understands that the Heath unit’s estimates were pegged in the region of R60- million.
Other issues which have been identified for investigation include alleged overpayment for printing services and advertising as well as multiple claims for expenses by senior members of staff – with some instances recorded of claims submitted up to 12 times against the same business expense.
Against this backdrop the technikon appears to be in the most desperate straits. Sources inside the institution said that by mid-year more than 100 000 student assignments had gone missing and could not be accounted for. In the course of this last year the tutoring system at the technikon’s regional campuses had broken down no fewer than three times. Perhaps not surprisingly, in the same period 45 000 students (of a total number of 85 000) dropped out.
The M&G understands that the Ministry of Education is also investigating irregularities at the institution.
The Heath unit asked for a proclamation to investigate Technikon SA in July this year – one of 91 requested by the unit but yet to be proclaimed by the government. But even if the investigation is finally proclaimed, it could already have been compromised.
The M&G is in possession of a letter sent by an investigator attached to the Heath unit which could have let the cat out of the bag.
Described by sources inside the unit as highly irregular, the letter to Technikon SA management outlines proposed investigations in enough detail for the subjects to be in a position to pre-empt the Heath unit’s scrutiny.
It was authored by investigator Casper Genis, on the instruction of senior investigator advocate G Visagie, and sent to the technikon’s public affairs department.
It specifies, among other things, that Judge Willem Heath’s unit is planning to look into “the outsourcing of human resources for personal gain … the unlawful and/or irregular use of printing equipment belonging to Technikon SA for private purposes and personal gain … theft or unlawful appropriation of property including computer equipment, machinery, stationery and/or furniture belonging to Technikon SA … and irregular and/or unauthorised salary increases awarded to officials of Technikon SA”.
The letter is dated October 14 1999 and was sent under the special investigating unit’s letterhead. Heath unit representative Guy Rich confirmed that the letter had been sent at the request of the technikon, but added: “It doesn’t give any more detail than there would have been in the proclamation had it been issued.”
However, in the wake of the sending of the letter, Buitendacht authorised his own investigation into alleged irregularities. In a memorandum to staff on October 18, Buitendacht wrote: “I have instructed Mrs A[nsa] Jordaan to advise me of anything that she may be aware of which might have a bearing on corruption or anything that could be construed as such, and they [sic] were unable to find anything.”
Rich says it is unusual for the unit’s investigators to give details of the substance of proposed investigations, as this could give those under investigation the opportunity to destroy or alter documentation ahead of the actual proclamation of the investigation.
In terms of legislation governing special investigating units, Heath investigators are not permitted to go ahead with proposed investigations until they are signed by the president and published in the Government Gazette.
Heath unit investigators would not give details of the alleged irregularities giving rise to the proposed investigation. However, a senior source inside the technikon said more than 100 instances of alleged impropriety have been levelled against the institution’s top management and its associates.
One involves a private company which was contracted to provide furniture and other supplies for examinations held under the auspices of the technikon. Internal audits found that the amount charged for the service was irregularly high. It was also discovered that the company was owned by a farmer whose farm was a neighbour to one owned by a former technikon vice-principal.
The vice-principal in question left the technikon’s employ amid allegations of harassment. The owner of the company contracted was later the subject of South African Revenue Service investigations, but settled his debts before assets were attached.
Buitendacht is on leave and could not be contacted at the time of going to press. His office telephone was unattended despite frequent attempts to get through.
John Matshikiza is away. His column, With the Lid Off, will return in the new year