The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is working with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Public Protector to finalise their investigations into the department says Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.

Responding to questions of the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation the minister said the department had sent responses to questions that were raised by the SIU almost more than a year ago.  The committee’s questions were based on the department’s First Quarter Progress Report for Financial Year 2017/18.

“The last time we communicated with the investigative unit is when we submitted our response and made a commitment to participate in working with the unit to expedite the process of the investigation. Since our submission of responses we have had no further communication,” said Mokonyane.

No reports forthcoming

The SIU are currently investigating tender and other matters relating to the Giyani Emergency Project.

Minister Mokonyane told the Portfolio Committee that the SIU’s investigations also entailed issues prior to 2014, saying that currently there was no report on the progress of the investigations.

Minister Mokonyane said she was also aware that there were a number of issues, including the Lesotho Highlands water Project, before the Public Protector, but that similarly there has not been a report to date forthcoming on the progress of investigation.

No instability here

Commenting on concerns of instability in the department since the suspension of Director-General, Dan Mashitisho, Minister Mokonyane told members of the committee that the interim governance arrangements had been put in place to guide the work of department in the absence of the DG.

She said an Acting DG had been appointed while the matter of the suspended DG was being dealt between the department and the legal representatives for Mashitisho, stressing that the matter would be expedited to ensure that the stability was restored in the department.