Calls are mounting for the release of a report on an investigation commissioned by former premier Mbhazima Shilowa into corrupt activities in the Gauteng government two years ago.
The findings of the report, compiled by Resolve Group attorneys, led to the suspension and dismissal of Sibusiso Buthelezi, former head of the public transport, roads and works department, last year.
After this, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane had requested legal advice on the findings of the report and forwarded it to the Special Investigating Unit , said Gauteng government spokesman Thabo Masebe.
The unit’s spokeswoman, Trinesha Naidoo, said on Friday investigators were still assessing whether the evidence merited further investigation.
Shilowa commissioned the report in 2008 after Buthelezi had clashed with the then member of the executive committee for public transport, roads and works, Ignatius Jacobs, over the awarding of certain contracts.
Last week, Democratic Alliance member of the Gauteng legislature Jack Bloom wrote to speaker Lindiwe Maseko, urging her to ensure the report was made public and distributed to members of the legislature.
Bloom said the roads and transport member of the executive committee, Bheki Nkosi, had promised late last year to make the document public, but that never happened.
Maseko’s political adviser, Mzi Khumalo, said she had received the report on Friday.
Nkosi’s department had mistakenly sent the report straight to integrity commissioner Jules Browde’s office instead of to Maseko’s.
He said Maseko would go through the report before forwarding it to the privileges and ethics committee.
The committee would then forward it to Browde, who would make recommendations.
Browde would brief the committee and the recommendations would be sent to Maseko, said Khumalo.
A fuming Bloom said the delay in releasing the report reflected badly on Mokonyane’s promise to fight corruption.
“It is ridiculous that it has not been made public. I had a commitment from Nkosi that the report will be released.”
Bloom said he suspected that more people were implicated in the report “and that is why it has not been made public”.
Mokonyane today delivers her state of the province speech at the Gauteng legislature, but it is not known whether she will address the topic.
Source: www.businessday.co.za, 20100222
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