Human Settlements
With regard to the allocation of housing opportunities to beneficiaries:
(a) What measures are currently in place to prevent tampering with the Housing Demand Database at (i) his Department and (ii) local municipalities, (b) how many complaints of tampering with the Housing Demand Database have been received between the 2016/17 and 2021/22 financial years and (c) what support does his Department offer local municipalities to ensure the integrity of the process of allocating housing opportunities to beneficiaries?
1 [a) Cash Flow Analyst.
(i) Salary level 9 and (ii) the salary ranges from R 382 245 to R 450 255.
(2) Yes
(a) I was informed that the Department had become aware of the matter and steps had been taken to determine the appropriate response by the Department. An investigation into misconduct charges against the official was requested by the then HOD. Further, the Department of Community Safety was requested to monitor the case via a court Watching Brief.
(b) I became aware of the matter after I assumed office as Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities in 2019 and I have followed up regularly on progress in the matter since then.
(c) The Department was subsequently advised that it was constrained by the principle of legality, to act within the parameters of the law and public service prescripts.
To have suspended the official in these circumstances would have been unlawful since the Department would have acted outside of the relevant prescripts and case law. In addition, a suspension may have violated the official’s constitutional right to fair labour practice.
The charges have subsequently been provisionally withdrawn, but the case continues to be monitored via a court Watching Brief, at the request of Provincial Treasury.
