By Doreen Mokgolo
- Five suspended Tshwane officials got their jobs back after a bargaining council ruled in their favour.
- Officials were suspended over a R292-million tender awarded to controversial businessman Edwin Sodi’s company.
The DA in Tshwane is fighting to stop five suspended municipal officials from getting their jobs back after a bargaining council ruled in the officials’ favour.
The five were suspended over misconduct in awarding the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works tender.
They took their case to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council, which ordered them back to work on 20 January. The council also ordered they get two months’ back pay.
The group was on the bid committee that gave a R292-million tender to Blackhead Consulting Services and NJR Projects, owned by businessman Edwin Sodi.
An investigation found the company should have been disqualified from bidding.
While an internal hearing found the officials guilty and wanted them suspended for a month without pay, former mayor Cilliers Brink pushed for a longer suspension with full pay while they appealed.
Brink, now DA Tshwane caucus leader, wants the city to challenge the ruling. “The project to solve the Hammanskraal water crisis must include accountability for decision-makers who knowingly harmed the city and residents,” he said.
He added that one official “is the head of supply chain management whose tenure includes a string of multi-billion rand irregular tenders and yet has survived the turnover of several mayors”.
But ANC regional secretary George Matjila welcomed the ruling. “The investigations failed to unearth whatever they were charged with, but now the DA continues with their witch hunt against the ANC.
“Sodi is not a member of the ANC; his shortcomings in business cannot be accredited to the ANC,” he said.
City spokesperson Selby Bokaba said they are studying the ruling and will get senior legal advice on what to do next.
Pictured above: Former mayor of Tshwane Cilliers Brink.
Source: Supplied
