The MEC for the department, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, said the department has a staff complement of 2 344 employees. "Work around identifying ghost workers has already started and action is being taken.

"The headcount process commenced in the Motheo district and will unfold in other districts. The department has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance, including the freezing of salaries."

Letsoha-Mathae said the department’s cumulative amount of irregular expenditure for the 2021/22 financial year is R3 billion and that they are currently in the process of terminating some contracts that may lead to irregular expenditure.

"This is evident from the imminent changes that are being put in place in the department."

The department has also reviewed all bid committees for the 2023/24 financial year to ensure that they are represented by suitably qualified members. The department has also established a Project Variation and Expansion Committee, comprising technical, finance, and supply chain management officials.

"This measure will ensure that all approvals for variations and expansions of construction contracts are above-board and will prevent irregularities."

ALSO READ: Free State Department accused of making shady payments

Last year, the department under the then-leadership of former MEC William Bulwane was accused of making upfront payments worth millions of rands to companies to which tenders were awarded.

The provincial secretary of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Malefane Msimanga, alleged the department paid R180 million to road contractors without any work being done.

The reported roads that the tenders were awarded for include roads to Dewetsdorp, Tweeling and the Jim Fouché Resort, among others.

Bulwane denied these allegations in a media briefing and stated that the figure of R180 million said to be advanced payments "isn’t factual and is misleading".

"We expected that in any allegation that is put forth against the department, the media houses would play their role of being impartial and independent of the facts around the matter at all material times."

OFM News