IDT CEO, GM in hot water over tender irregularities

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean McPherson, says two Independent Development Trust (IDT) officials have been linked to irregular awarding of tenders.

IDT Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tebogo Malaka, and supply chain management General Manager (GM), Dr Molebedi Sisi, are in hot water for breaching professional protocol.

Minister McPherson revealed the news of their investigation while briefing the media on the outcomes of the department’s forensic investigation recently.

Global consultancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, led the probe, which focused on the over R800 million Pressure Swing Absorption Oxygen Plant tender.

Minister McPherson says both the IDT CEO and the supply chain management general manager accepted flawed internal assurances.

“She did not verify any of the information. She did not identify any of the red flags by the Department of Health. She did not convene the necessary risk committees to assess the matter. In this, she was not alone. The report also singles out Dr Sisi – the general manager for supply chain management at IDT – for his role in misleading internal stake matters and failing to act in accordance with his responsibilities. Dr. Sisi advised against cancelling the RFQ process despite clear warnings from the Department of Health. He assured the CEO and evaluation committee the procurement process was compliant when in fact key regulatory requirements such as valid SAHPRA (South African Health Products Regulatory Authority) licenses had not been enforced,” says McPherson.

The Minister says no global fund resources were distributed for the project.

He adds that investigations into the irregular appointment, which occurred 18 month back, are underway and that disciplinary action against the two officials will be instituted.

“The forensic report recommends that disciplinary action should be taken against Ms. Malaka and Dr Sisi which will be in purview of the IDT board,” says McPherson

Further disciplinary referrals against several other IDT executives and other SCM (Supply Chain Management) officials is also in the ranks.

“This morning, I took the following actions to ensure consequence management and accountability and this includes writing to the Hawks and providing them with them with a report to supplement their current criminal investigation into this matter,” says McPherson.

The Minister says South Africans deserve to know how their money was spent and misused.

IDT appointed Zimbini Hill as the board chairperson and Raymond Makhado as her deputy since early July.

“I know that they will rise to the challenge and systematically deal with each matter raised in the report including implementing every single recommendation of this report, instituting consequence management, restoring governance in compliance frameworks, and rebuilding the reputation of the IDT to be a trusted partner in social infrastructure delivery,” adds McPherson.

He is confident that the “chaotic” state entity can be salvaged.

“I am not prepared to accept the chaos and disfunction so that people could steal as they please. It has a critical role to play in delivering clinics, schools, and police stations,” says McPherson.

The news comes amid concerns over pervasive corruption in the public sector, which citizens demand to be done away with.

McPherson, who seems to have caught wind of the country’s concerns, says he aims to ensure ethical governance.

“This is not just about a tender, one company, or the IDT. It’s about the kind of state we are building. It is to build a capable, ethical and developmental state,” says McPherson. Written by Odirile Rabolao