De Lille suspends Public Works DG over state funeral spending
Minster of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille has placed the department’s director-general Sam Vukela on precautionary suspension.
The suspension is effective from Wednesday.
Vukela is implicated in massive overspending on state funerals and an irregular hiring spree.
"This action follows from a minute I received from President Cyril Ramaphosa on 17 March to inform me of his decision to delegate his powers to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure to initiate disciplinary processes against the Director-General, Adv Sam Vukela," De Lille said in a statement.
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De Lille says the suspension follows a report she received into two investigations:
1: A report by Price WaterHouse Coopers (PWC) which investigated allegations of irregularities related to the provision of moveable infrastructure for official funerals; and
2. A report by the Public Service Commission which investigated allegations of irregular appointments within the Senior Management Service of the Department.
"An internal disciplinary process that will be chaired by a senior advocate will be convened in due course,” De Lille said.
"In order to protect the integrity of the process, no further comment will be made to the media until the process has been concluded."