Presidency ‘failed to respond’ to queries on public servants doing business with state
The Presidency has been fingered as one of a number of government departments which has failed to respond to requests for information on employees who were conducting business with the state.
This was revealed by a director at the Department of Public Service and Administration Salamon Hoogenraad-Vermaak on Wednesday, while addressing Parliament’sportfolio committee on public service.
“The national departments that did not respond are Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural development, Cooperative Governance, Correctional Services, Higher Education and Training, Home Affairs, Human Settlements, International Relations and Cooperation, Justice and Constitutional Development, Mineral Resources and Energy, National Treasury, Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation, Presidency, Public Works and Infrastructure, Traditional Affairs, Transport, Water and Sanitation,” he said.
“These departments that I just listed were the ones who were expected to provide us with information as they had employees that were identified to be conducting business with the state.”
Hoogenraad-Vermaak also revealed that at least 1539 public servants are doing business with the state.
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Out of that number, 1111 are in business with provincial departments, while 428 are doing business with national government.
Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko took leave of absence after being implicated in a personal protective equipment scandal worthsome R125 million.
It is alleged that Diko, together with Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku and his wife Loyiso, improperly benefited from the Gauteng government tender.
According to the law, public servants are prohibited from doing business with government departments or any organ of state.