Johannesburg - Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi fired a
official for accepting a car and payments from companies doing business with
the department, according to a report on Tuesday.
The Star reported that Thabo Thomas Moagi became the first
department of public works official to be dismissed since Nxesi made public his
plans to root out corruption in his office.
Moagi was dismissed after being found guilty, in a
disciplinary hearing, of accepting payments of R260 000 and a vehicle worth
R254 000 from companies of a business man who was awarded 11 lease tenders
three years ago.
Moagi was originally charged with his colleague Desmond
Simamane for having private dealings with the businessman, but Simamane
resigned when the disciplinary hearing started.
Moagi was employed as senior administration officer and
project manager in the Johannesburg regional office. He was earning less than
R10 000 a month.
Moagi, who started working for the department on March 1,
2004, occasionally served on the bid evaluation committee that participated in
the process of adjudicating and awarding lease tenders. He pleaded not guilty
to four counts of misconduct.
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