A day after dismissing a senior official who raised the alarm about irregularities and possible corruption amounting to R8.2 billion, the City of Joburg under the ANC, EFF and Patriotic Alliance shut down its Group Forensics and Investigation Services (GFIS) and handed its powers to the City Manager, Floyd Brink.
News24 reports that a report recommending the change was adopted by the Government of Local Unity, the name given to the ANC, EFF, Patriotic Alliance and minority party coalition. The GFIS was created by the DA, when they took over in 2016, as Johannesburg’s anti-fraud and corruption service.
The unit was responsible for investigating the theft of assets, vandalism, maladministration, illegal connections, breach of security, and hijacked properties.
News24 notes that in 2022, the unit commissioned law firm ENSafrica to investigate irregularities related to the approval of a R320-million public safety transaction. The report on this found that Brink had not acted when he discovered the multimillion-rand transaction had been pushed through without following due process.
The closing down of the GFIS follows the dismissal of former director of finance in the Department of Public Safety, Sarika Lakraj-Naidoo.
News24 reports that she made several protected disclosures relating to dodgy contracts, irregular employment practices, and misuse of resources.
Lakraj-Naidoo opened cases with the GFIS, the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), deposing to affidavits and providing evidence.
However, on 15 June, the acting head of the department, Tebogo Modiba, issued a letter of dismissal with immediate effect.
Charges faced by Lakraj-Naidoo included gross misconduct, gross dishonesty, harassment, intimidation and bullying, with city employees – including those she implicated – accusing her of unfair treatment and abuse.
She countered that the presiding officer had failed to take into account the ‘disingenuous allegations’, the ‘unreliable witnesses’, and the ‘material discrepancies’ in the testimony.
At least four officials implicated in Lakraj-Naidoo’s red flags testified against her, including former facilities manager Gift Zondo, who allegedly helped facilitate irregularities in the establishment of the City’s Integrated Intelligence Operation Centre (IIOC)
He accused Lakraj-Naidoo of showing disrespect when she turned him away for a meeting as she was busy.
Other implicated officials who testified were the deputy director of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Ntsako Maphosa, the deputy director of the COJ, Mpho Mokautu, and the deputy director of finance, Thulile Malebana.
Lakraj-Naidoo said the allegations were brought against her after the SIU’s Presidential Proclamation was gazetted in 2019, and after the 12 criminal matters were registered with the Hawks in June 2020.
She has received threats and attempts on her life, and her family’s safety has been compromised.
[Image: Gia Conte-Patel from Pixabay]