Double Standards? Outrage Grows Over Gauteng’s Selective Discipline of Officials

Public outcry erupts over how Gauteng’s Department of Infrastructure and Development handles two senior officials accused of misconduct.

In the corridors of Gauteng’s Department of Infrastructure and Development (DID), whispers of injustice are growing louder. Two top officials are facing serious disciplinary charges, but only one has been shown the door, and locals are asking why.

The department has already spent more than R5 million in legal costs to discipline its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who’s been sitting at home on full pay for over a year. The charges? Insubordination, dereliction of duty, and absenteeism.

But here’s the kicker: a Deputy Director-General (DDG), accused of gross misconduct, maladministration, and financial abuse tied to the Mayibuye Primary School project in Tembisa, is still reporting for duty as if nothing is wrong.

The Mayibuye Mess: A School Built on Wetland and Corruption

The DDG’s charges are far from trivial. A leaked charge sheet reveals that the official allegedly skipped a critical wetland study before greenlighting construction of Mayibuye Primary School. That decision led to project delays, ballooning costs, and perhaps most alarmingly, a school built on unsafe ground.

From December 2018 to March 2020, taxpayers footed the bill for nearly R10 million in “standing time” — money paid to a contractor that couldn’t proceed with construction due to poor planning and red tape.

Worse still, the DDG is accused of irregularly appointing a contractor for a “smart school” project without following proper tender processes, a direct violation of procurement law and financial discipline.

The Unequal Hand of Justice

Despite the seriousness of the charges, the DDG remains at work. Meanwhile, the CFO has been suspended, and the disciplinary case against her has already drained millions in public funds.

One senior departmental insider, speaking anonymously, summed up the internal mood:
“It’s politics of favouritism… How can one person with smaller charges be suspended for over a year, while another with much bigger allegations still comes to work like it’s business as usual? It’s selective, and everyone sees it.”

MEC Response: “There’s No Crisis”

When asked for clarity, department spokesperson Theo Nkonki redirected queries to Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo, who downplayed concerns.
“As far as I know, the DDG’s matter is being handled. There’s no crisis,” he told reporters. “Let the investigation take its course.”

Mamabolo also stated that whether or not to suspend the DDG was the employer’s prerogative, depending on whether the official might interfere with the investigation.

But the optics don’t sit well with many in the public sector or outside it.

Watchdog Findings: Lives at Risk, Money Wasted

The accusations against the DDG aren’t just departmental gossip, they’re backed by findings from the Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, who flagged serious irregularities in the Mayibuye school build.

Her office confirmed the school was constructed on a wetland, posing safety risks to learners and staff. The total bill? A staggering R82 million.

Build One South Africa (BOSA), a civic movement led by Mmusi Maimane, welcomed the report, but insists more needs to be done. Back in 2020, Maimane himself laid the initial complaint with the Public Protector.

Now, BOSA is pushing for the recovery of the lost funds. Their Gauteng representative, Ayanda Allie, recently urged Premier Panyaza Lesufi to create a task force that would ensure public funds are recovered and implicated officials held accountable.

“We don’t think the remedial action so far is enough,” Allie said. “If we don’t follow through, shady contractors and compromised public servants will keep getting away with this.”

The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters

South Africans are no strangers to corruption scandals. But cases like this where accountability appears to depend on who you are and who you know, chip away at public trust in government.

With billions needed for service delivery in struggling communities, every wasted rand hurts. And when those responsible for waste and wrongdoing are treated differently depending on their status, it doesn’t just look bad, it smells rotten.

This isn’t just about a CFO and a DDG. It’s about fairness, transparency, and whether our institutions serve the public or protect their own.

{Source: IOL}

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