Ntombela acts on corruption

Social development MEC Sisi Ntombela this week paid surprise visits to some non-profit organisations (NPOs) in Mangaung to check on their operations following disclosures her department has lost nearly a million rands to ghost NPOs.

More than R900 000 was stolen from the department through the scam in which some department officials would approve funding for fictitious NPOs or non-governmental organisations. The department would pay the money not knowing it was going into the individual pockets of the fraudsters.

Ntombela, who has vowed to bring those behind the ghost NPOs scam – some of them suspected to be officials working for her department – to book, said the new Operation Thoso will be extended to all parts of the province as she ratchets up the pressure against the crooks.

The word ‘Thoso’ is a Sotho for unannounced visit. Speaking after visiting the address of one of the dodgy NPOs – which turned out to be the home of a retired old woman and not an early childhood development centre – Ntombela said the visits were meant to physically verify the existence of all groups listed on the department database.

She said the exercise that is seen lasting several months and comes as the department’s anti-fraud, corruption and security unit is also widening an investigation into the scam was necessary to ensure government funds meant for the sick, poor and vulnerable in society were reaching the intended targets.

“We need to send a strong message to those behind these illegal activities that we cannot, under any circumstance condone their behaviour and that their actions have consequences. Justice must prevail,” said the livid Ntombela.

“It is quite frustrating to think that there are NGOs that want to make a difference in the community that the department is unable to assist because of corrupt individuals (who are stealing money meant to help the groups),” she said.

Ntombela said from Bloemfontein the visits will be extended to Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu before the focus turns to other districts in the province.
Meanwhile the department has opened two cases against two of its officials in Senekal town, in Setsoto Local Municipality, who allegedly demanded kickbacks from a matron a of an early childhood development centre there.

The two, who police were this week yet to arrest as they were still carrying out investigations, are said to have made a total of R8 800 from the kickbacks.
One of the officials worked as a community development practitioner, while the other was a public private partnership officer.