Ex-MEC's conduct unethical, says Protector

A report on the News24 site quotes Madonsela as saying: '(Segabutla) acted in a manner that is inconsistent with the position that she occupied and that was not in the best interests of the department.' Madonsela released the investigation report at a news briefing in Balfour, Mpumalanga. Segabutla, who was MEC of health and social development, has since been appointed as SA's ambassador to Cuba. The investigation was prompted by a complaint lodged with Madonsela's office, in June 2010, relating to the procurement of services for the Limpopo health department. The complaint related to forensic investigation contracts awarded by the department to Trispen Solutions and Tsepo Technology Consulting. Tsepo's director, John William Lucas, was related to Segabutla, and Segabutla's attorney Gert van der Merwe was involved with Trispen. Madonsela recommended that President Jacob Zuma reprimand Segabutla for unethical conduct and advise her on how to conduct herself in future. Full report on the News24 site

Staying in Mpumalanga, evidence of widespread maladministration has been found at Dipaleseng municipality in Balfour, Madonsela said, according to a report in The Times. It says Madonsela found a string of cases of maladministration, including credit-note fraud, theft of electricity, and a lack of debt and revenue management. Madonsela is quoted in the report as saying: 'The interim findings of an investigation into theft and fraud by clerks and cashiers at the municipality's offices identified credit-note fraud in excess of R1.5-million. Clerks issued fraudulent credit notes to write off accounts outstanding in return for bribes.' Full report in The Times