Manana lands in the butter

2003-09-02 08:07

Linda de Nysschen

Nelspruit - "I'm doing just fine, thank-you."

So said Sibongile Manana, former Mpumalanga health MEC, despite only being informed officially on Monday morning by premier Ndaweni Mahlangu of her "redeployment" to the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture.

On Sunday the controversial politician heard through the media she had been relieved of her post following damning results of a forensic audit which pointed to serious mismanagement in the department.

Former department head Riena Charles in particular is implicated in the report.

Mahlangu transferred her to his office as deputy director-general of Mpumalanga, despite recommendations that legal action should be taken against her.

Manana told Beeld that Sunday's news hadn't really bothered her because she was still very excited about being voted onto the ANC Women's League executive.

Department in shock

Health department staff have already begun to clear the two women's offices. Apparently the atmosphere was sombre. Officials who only heard the news Monday morning were badly shocked, said departmental spokesperson Dumisani Mlangeni.

Mlangeni said there had been no sign of Scorpions investigators at the department.

The audit report had been referred to the unit some time ago. Their spokesperson, Sipho Ngema, did not respond to Beeld's messages.

Why no action?

Satisfactory answers could not be supplied by the premier or his offince on why Manana and Charles were simply transferred to new posts instead of facing disciplinary action.

Director-general Stanley Soko said a decision on disciplinary steps had not been taken because independent investigations by the Scorpions and the auditor-general needed to be finalised.

Soko added the audit reports would not be made public because this could prejudice the investigation. The government is only prepared to say the reports indicate "questions of mismanagement and serious negligence in the supply of medical equipment and spending the HIV/Aids budget".

Nor is there any explanation about why Mahlangu sat on the auditor's report for months before taking action. At least one report has apparently been in his possession since February.

Soko said the premier decided on redeployment after receiving a report from the administrative task team appointed to take over management of the department.

They apparently "discovered" the department does not have a functioning organisational structure. This led to budget errors, staff shortages and other "management problems".

- Beeld