Johannesburg - Last year, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi fired Thabo Thomas Moagi for accepting a car and payments - allegedly from Sayed Hoosen Mia - in exchange for the alleged syndicate leader’s companies doing business with the department.
Moagi was dismissed after being found guilty of accepting R260 000 and a R254 000 vehicle from Mia’s companies after the businessman was awarded 11 lease tenders three years ago.
Moagi was originally charged with colleague Desmond Simamane, but Simamane resigned before disciplinary action was instituted.
Moagi was employed as a senior administration officer and project manager in the Joburg regional office.
In his disciplinary hearing, a former Special Investigating Unit member, Marius Giani, testified that he had conducted a lifestyle audit on Moagi and Mia.
Giani had found Moagi owned a R1.5 million property in Krugersdorp and had taken out a R1.2m bond, registered on April 4, 2011.
On January 13 last year, Moagi’s monthly net salary was R9 778.36.
The Department of Public Works also found Moagi and Simamane had awarded 28 leases to Mia’s companies. Most of the buildings were never occupied. It has laid criminal charges against Simamane and Mia.
The Star