Graft officials named, shamed

2005-07-18 21:15

Pretoria - The names of home affairs officials found to have been corrupt or to have committed serious acts of misconduct were released by the department on Monday.

Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said in Pretoria 66 officials were dismissed between April 2004 and June 2005 for serious acts of misconduct.

She said: "We are pleased to announce that Moufe Grace Mudau and Mr Prince Maluleka... who were captured in a hidden videotape committing acts of corruption, have been dismissed after the conclusion of an internal investigation on the matter."

The two were apparently captured in an expose broadcast in February by a television programme, Special Assignment.

Machitjie 'demanded a bribe'

She said: "Another case worth highlighting is that of Mr Tokelo David Machitjie, an immigration official who was based at our Maseru Bridge border post."

Machitjie allegedly demanded a bribe from a Lesotho national en route to Lesotho, because he suspected her documents were fraudulent.

"When she indicated she did not have money he solicited sexual favours, assaulted her and sexually harassed her at Maseru border post."

Mapisa-Nqakula expressed regret about the matter towards the woman's family and for the damage done.

She said Machitjie had since been dismissed.

Official dismissed for demanding bribe

She said a murder case against Eliot Maseko who had been working at the department's Hazyview offices in Mpumalanga was pending.

Maseko was dismissed for allegedly killing a member of the public on the premises in December 2003 and for carrying a firearm on state premises without written authorisation.

Steven Tama Letsoalo was dismissed for demanding R8 000 and threatening to cancel the passport and permanent residence permit of a member of the public.

Between April 2004 and June 2005, the department issued 54 written warnings, 40 final written warnings, 34 verbal warnings and three demotions.

Helping illegal immigrants

The minister said most of the cases of corruption and misconduct were related to fraud, misappropriation of state funds, aiding and abetting illegal immigrants, illegal issuing of documents and assault.

She said: "Given our commitment to rehabilitate our staff to become productive and focused in their work, we have counselled 40 officials with a view to assisting them to change their behaviour prior to instituting formal disciplinary measures."

Deputy minister Malusi Gigaba said the department was not corrupt, but that "pockets of corruption" existed. He said trends of corrupt practices were being monitored.

He said preventative measures existed to discourage such groups and individuals from taking part in corruption, apart from the dismissals, suspensions and counselling.

Gigaba said: "Information technology systems are in place in the department to discourage corruption."

- SAPA