North West’s beleagured agricultural department has spent almost R2-million this year on the salaries of at least five officials who are sitting at home on suspension.
Four agriculture department officials have been suspended on allegations of corruption, fraud and maladministration following a forensic audit last year. They allegedly made fraudulent claims to the department, which were allegedly approved by co-accused Phindi Mokoena, who has since been fired.
At least six businessmen were also arrested and released on bail. But since the initial arrests and court appearances, nothing has happened. Except for Mokoena, only one official has been subjected to a disciplinary hearing.
Department head Emily Mogajane was suspended for saying that the province would terminate Afrikaans as a medium of instruction from the beginning of this year at the Potchefstroom Agricultural College. Premier Edna Molewa later fired her for polarising the department, despite Mogajane winning her disciplinary case.
Despite several court judgements ordering her reinstatement, she has not recovered her job.
On suspension since August last year, she continues to earn an annual R656 886.
The same salary is being paid to her replacement, Paul Mogotle.
According to a source, the department is spending more than R308 000 a month, or R1,9-million a year, on the salaries of suspended officials. This excludes benefits such as cars, housing, cellphones and medical allowances. Mokoena, fired after being found guilty at a disciplinary hearing, received severance pay of R473 991.
The department confirmed that “several” suspended employees were facing disciplinary hearings, but said it would only issue a statement on the conclusion of each individual case.
Department spokesperson Granny Sene declined to comment on the individual packages and what the department had paid to suspended officials.
“The department has not given any employee a golden handshake, save for the usual termination benefits Âprescribed by law,” Sene said, declining to give more details about Mokoena’s farewell package.
Sene said according to law any suspension of an employee must be on full pay.
“The length of investigation and of the disciplinary hearing is a matter beyond the control of the department,” she said.
Labour law specialist Dalia Lichtenstein said suspended employees should undergo disciplinary hearings as soon as possible.
“For these employees to be sitting at home costing the tax payers huge money is unacceptable,” she said. “No labour law requires a criminal case to finish first. Employers should hold their own disciplinary hearings as soon as possible to decide whether the employee must stay or go.”