Nawaal Deane
After a five-year suspension an inspector in the Department of Public Works in East London is being charged for allegedly defrauding the department of R450 000.
But the suspension has cost the department close to R400 000 because Dennis Maart, a building inspector, is still on a full salary and it has taken the department five years to implement a disciplinary inquiry.
In July 1996 Maart was suspended for allegedly submitting invoices in the name of Stuurman’s Construction Company for work that was not carried out.
Maart is alleged to have bought an invoice book and stamped it, using the stamp of Stuurman’s Construction Company. He was subsequently paid for having completed a number of bogus contracts.
He was also arrested, but the criminal case against him is pending due to the lack of evidence when the only witness, Stuurman, died.
In October last year the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) drew attention to the case. Maart was recalled to the department by the acting head, Monwabisi Baza, who said it appeared Maart had spent the past five years on a “paid holiday” and that nothing had been done to bring the matter to closure.
When the PSAM tried to establish what Maart has been doing for the past four years it was suggested by members of the King William’s Town community where Maart lives that he is now self-employed.
“A local builder suggested that Maart is engaged in construction work,” says Colm Allan, director of the PSAM.
After numerous calls by the PSAM to the department, charges against Maart were implemented by the new head of the department, Dumasani Mafu.
The PSAM, which has congratulated Mafu for initiating disciplinary charges, says this case highlights the need to speed up disciplinary action.
“It is unacceptable that large sums of taxpayers’ money should be effectively squandered by suspending officials on full pay for long periods when they have not yet been charged with misconduct,” says Allan.
Mbuyiseli Mboya, the legal advisor for the department, confirmed that the disciplinary enquiry would take place on May 11.
Mboya said the delay was due to insufficient evidence and the outcome of the hearing will be decided on the basis of mitigating factors presented by Maart.
Mboya confirmed Maart is still on a full salary.
But according to PSAM the situation could have been rectified sooner.
“It is unacceptable that Public Works MEC, Phumulo Masualle, who was informed of the full details of this case during a presentation to the Eastern Cape legislature on September 22 1999, failed to have disciplinary action initiated before now [one year and eight months later],” says Allan.
The department has suffered financial losses for a number of years. In the financial years between 1996 and 1999 it could not account for R2,1-billion.
Regardless of the outcome of the enquiry, the PSAM has calculated the total monetary value of the remuneration package for Maart as an inspector (including salary, service bonus, motor scheme, pension and medical aid) ranges between R86 000 and R99 000 a year. This amounts to between R344 000 and R396 000 over four years.
The cost to the department may be close to R1-million, taking into account the initial R450 000 that has not been recovered, with the salary still being paid to Maart.