Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu has appointed Advocate Terry Motau to lead a team of lawyers to review reports of fraud, corruption and irregular expenditure at the Department of Water and Sanitation and to ensure that all recommendations are fully implemented.
A statement released by the department said that the appointment of the legal team was to ensure that there were consequences for those found to be committing such crimes.
Minister Sisulu added that she had received a report indicating that irregularities had been found with projects worth more than R16 billion. Officials involved in awarding the tenders had, she said, been corrupt by awarding these to themselves or to close relatives. The Minister singled out senior managers at the department and those facing allegations at Water Boards as a priority when investigations begin. She said that a lack of consequence management had resulted in many officials implicated in fraud and corruption remaining at work or being placed on paid suspension, adding that she aimed to change this.
Advocate Motau has been involved in several high-profile investigations, including the recent “Great Bank Heist” which focused on corruption and looting at VBS Bank in Limpopo. “We believe that Advocate Motau has the necessary experience and will lead a team of professionals to make sure that in the water sector there is consequence management and value for money,” the Minister said.
