/ 26 October 2006

KwaZulu-Natal education officials suspended

Two senior KwaZulu-Natal education officials have been suspended amid a probe into alleged procurement irregularities, The Witness newspaper reported on Thursday.

Its website said staff at the education department head office in Pietermaritz Street were surprised to see a team of people arrive on Wednesday with boxes.

They spent some time on the third floor of the building, and then went to the procurement section in the fourth floor.

The team from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) left with boxes of files and computers. Regional head Dave Walker confirmed the unit’s involvement in the probe.

He said the unit was approached by the education department head Cassius Lubisi to help with investigations into irregularities in the procurement of textbooks and stationery in the province.

He confirmed that two officials have been suspended on full pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

Walker said he expected more heads to roll as the investigation continued.

Departmental spokesperson Christi Naudé could not give the names of the officials suspended.

”All I can say at this stage is that we have been conducting investigations over some time and have suspended some officials as a precautionary measure.” – Sapa