Correctional Services probed over revolving door syndrome
Publish date: 15 March 2007
Issue Number: 54
Diary: Legalbrief Forensic
Category: Corruption
Parliament has demanded to know from Correctional Services why the very same high-level officials who awarded contracts for the construction of new prisons later became directors of the same companies that won the lucrative tenders.
The blasting came, says the Cape Argus, after prison officials presented the department\'s strategic plan and budget for the 2007/08 financial year to the National Assembly\'s Correctional Services Committees. However, MPs wanted to know how the department planned to put a stop to the revolving door syndrome that has led to calls for a mandatory cooling-off period for high-ranking government officials who move into the business realm. The department\'s CFO, Patrick Gillingham, admitted to the problem and said at the time, the officials did not sign anything that forbade them from taking up employment with private companies. We have learnt from that and (now have) a cooling off period, he said. Concerns have been raised that former Correctional Services commissioner Linda Mti held business interests in the companies his department awarded tenders to. Full Pretoria News report
