| Tender falsehoods - 2010/07/28 | |
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News Article: 5889 has been read 215 times. |
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| Thebe Mabanga asks communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda about the rumoured suspension of his director- general, tender awards and big spending Is Mamodupi Mohlala still director- general (DG) of the department? The DG was off ill and is currently in office. Should there be any change to her status, I will make an announcement to that effect. What was the outcome of your discussion with the DG last Friday concerning her position? Discussions between me as the minister and my staff are an internal matter and are always handled as such. How many senior managers has she suspended in her 10 months in office? There have been suspensions and all these issues are being handled by the DG as the accounting officer. She would be best placed to give figures on this issue. Have you attempted to control tenders awarded by the department? I am not involved in the awarding of tenders or their adjudication. This is a competence of the (DG). Your name frequently crops up in relation to state tender awards. Does this worry you — would you quit the cabinet to pursue your business interests? I am concerned about falsehoods peddled against me by faceless sources. I am also concerned that some sections of the media not only publish the falsehoods but treat them as fact. I am appointed by the president to serve in cabinet and I am currently not involved in business. When I took office I relinquished whatever position I held in the private sector and declared whatever interests I retain. Former Transnet executive Siyabonga Gama was fired recently for unduly favouring your company in the awarding of a security tender. Was this why you lobbied to have him appointed Transnet CEO? I expressed an opinion on the Gama matter in my capacity as an ANC leader within the context of transformation and the ascendancy of black executives to the upper echelons of industry. Are you among the 40% of ministers found by the public protector not to have declared their interests within 60 days of taking office? I have complied with the rules and regulations of the executive members interest register. Within 60 days? Yes, on June 24 2009. Have you ever spent R1,2m of your own money on a car? Whatever costs that are incurred in the course of executing my mandate have nothing to do with my personal preferences. I only travel and use hotels to fulfil my duties. What I did before my appointment to public office has no relevance to my current circumstances. |
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| Source: Financial Mail | Date: 2010/07/28 |
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