Limpopo - Newly appointed Limpopo Roads and Transport MEC Lehlogonolo Masoga has promised to fully implement Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendations into the fraudulent awarding of a R52 million contract to a company linked to Julius Malema.
He would “act accordingly” to ensure former departmental head Ntau Letebele’s role in the awarding of the project management unit contract to On-Point Engineering in 2010 was probed internally, he said.
Former premier Cassel Mathale and his roads and transport MEC, Pitsi Moloto, not only ignored Madonsela’s recommendations but also sparked a public outcry when Letebele resigned.
This left him untouchable because he was no longer in the department’s employ.
In what was seen as a strategy to protect Letebele from the law or internal probes, the Mathale government immediately redeployed him as chief executive of Great North Transport – a bus firm overseen by the Limpopo Economic Development Department. He was later forced to resign, however, after it emerged his appointment was irregular.
Masoga vowed to follow up on Sunday and possibly sanction Letebele.
“I will request a copy and familiarise myself with it, and be able to act accordingly.”
The fact that Letebele was no longer in the employ of the Limpopo government would not make it impossible for action to be taken because “the government has rules and I will act in terms of these”.
Should Letebele be charged criminally, he would join Malema and his business associates – Lesiba Gwangwa, Kagisho Dichabe, Selbie Manthatha, his wife Helen and brother Makgetsi – in the dock.
They face charges such as fraud and corruption, or money laundering and racketeering in connection with the On-Point contract.
The former Limpopo ANCYL chairman has denied claims that his elevation was partly meant to rub salt into Malema’s wounds because he summarily fired him from the league for challenging his authority.
The Star