By Marcus Moloko
Tshwane Mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya has raised alarm over the city’s annual expenditure of R30 million on salaries for suspended officials, most of whom are senior managers.
“One of the concerns that we have was the amount of money that we pay for people who are sitting at home,” Moya said.
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“We gave an instruction to look at those cases that can realistically be brought back to the city so that managers don’t just send people on suspension because they don’t want that colleague at work.”
Moya explained how disciplinary processes have dragged on, with some officials finding ways to delay proceedings.
“Either they will change lawyers. When they change lawyers, they ask for an extension. They find a way to play with the system, and they are within their rights,” she said.
According to Moya, about 80% of the R30 million is tied to the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works tender scandal and other 2023 cases involving senior officials.
“Their disciplinary process is not concluded because now you’re spending 30 million rand on people that are supposed to be at work that aren’t at work,” she said.
The Rooiwal matter, linked to irregular contracts worth nearly R295 million, has already been the subject of Bargaining Council rulings, Labour Court appeals, and ongoing Special Investigating Unit probes. These legal complexities have kept the officials on suspension while the city continues to foot the bill.
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Moya acknowledged that in some cases, such as Rooiwal, the city’s hands are tied due to pending court processes.
“As I’m saying, the Rooiwal, what can you do realistically when there’s a court case?” she asked.
While stressing that suspended officials are entitled to due process, Moya said the city must find ways to conclude disciplinary matters more efficiently.
“You’re spending millions on people who are supposed to be at work. That’s money that could be used for service delivery,” she said.
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