An investigation could not find any fruitless or wasteful expenditure by the office of the deputy minister of home affairs, Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana said on Wednesday.
The public protector conducted the investigation after allegations that public funds had been misappropriated by Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba.
It was alleged that Gigaba sent flowers to his wife at the department’s expense and his office paid for flight tickets and car rentals of several private individuals on several occasions.
Mushwana said the allegations had also been investigated by the accounting officer of the department.
”It was noted that an error in respect of the flowers sent to his [Gigaba’s] wife was admitted and that the expenditure concerned had been reimbursed by Mr Gigaba,” said Mushwana.
He said it appeared that the financial control mechanisms of the office of the deputy minister needed to be improved.
”No further evidence of irregular, unauthorised or fruitless and wasteful expenditure … could be found.”
Mushwana, however, said that while the allegations regarding the flights and rentals could not be found, Gigaba had added to the delay in investigations because he did not ”cooperate properly or at all” with the watchdog.
”Gigaba’s failure, without any just cause, to cooperate properly and diligently and without delay … was improper and unnecessarily delayed the conclusion, a matter that was in the public interest.”
The report recommended that the speaker of the National Assembly take appropriate steps to ensure that Gigaba’s failure to comply — a Constitutional obligation — be addressed.
It also recommended that the director general in the department improve the financial control mechanisms.
In a statement Gigaba said he welcomed the report, stating that he had always been of the view that the investigation by the Office of the Public Protector into this matter was necessary to properly interrogate and clear the matters involved.
He said he hoped that the release of these findings would now put this matter to rest and would serve as further proof that these allegations had no basis. — Sapa