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THIS IS HOW TAXPAYERS’ MONEY IS WASTED

25/02/2014 00:55:00 BY SIBONGILE SUKATI

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MBABANE— A head teacher at Mangcongco Primary School accumulated a gross salary of E373 136, yet he had reached the compulsory retirement age and continued to work without authority to do so.

The Auditor General (AG), in her report which is yet to be debated and adopted in Parliament, alleged records had revealed that the head teacher was born on February 12, 1951, and had attained the compulsory retirement age of 60 on February 12, 2011, which was supposed to be his last day of service.
The head teacher allegedly altered his birth date.

“Consequently, the ministry unlawfully paid the employee gross salaries amounting to E373 136.24 from February 13, 2011, to February 21, 2013, without any authority,” reads the AGs report. The AG, Phestecia Nxumalo, said such payment was unlawful and tantamount to fraud.

She further stated that on September 21, 2004, the employee had successfully applied for a national identity card which attested to his date of birth.
“However, from July 31, 2009 onwards the same employee started a process to change his birth date from 1951 to February 12, 1964,” said the AG. Nxumalo’s report states the officer had managed to change some of the documents but was on December 16, 2009, unsuccessful in his attempt to change his national ID card because he had already been issued one.

“Moreover there was clear evidence that this employee maliciously extended his service through false pretences,” reads the report.
The AG further stated that evidence gathered from academic documents showed this employee obtained his Junior Certificate in 1973 and O’level in 1976 and was thereafter employed as a temporary teacher in January 1977. She said based on the latter date of birth, 1964, this would have implied the officer had completed his JC and Form V at the ages of nine and 12 respectively and became a temporary teacher at 13 years of age.

The AG said the ministry had concurred with her observations in that the employee had unlawfully earned salaries for a period of 25 months beyond the actual compulsory retirement age due to intentional misrepresentation of the date of birth.

She stated, however, the employee appealed to the Teaching Service Commission that the salaries earned should not be recovered since he had delivered his services during the said period. The controlling officer stated he was still awaiting the outcome of the appeal and the ministry had prepared a deed of settlement to the amount of E256 282.51.
“The action taken is appreciated. However, at the time of reporting there was no update received on the issue of unlawfully extended service,” she said.

Civil servant receives E336 000 for doing nothing

MBABANE — A civil servant employed as a human resources officer in the Ministry of Education and Training has received E336 000, although she was not at work.
According to the report of the Auditor General, Themba Phestecia Nxumalo, the officer in August 2010 was transferred as she stated that doctors had recommended she should avoid stressful duties as, allegedly, in 1984 she was diagnosed with a major mental illness.

The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) transferred the officer to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy with effect from November 29, 2010.
However, the transfer was not effected in that the officer did not assume duties at the new station or continue at the Ministry of Education.
A letter dated December 11, 2012, from the hospital to the ministry, however, confirmed that the officer was mentally able to fulfil her duties.

referred

The controlling officer, according to the AG in a response in August 2013, stated the matter had since been referred to the medical examination board as per the directive of the Civil Service Commission, stating they hoped the matter would be solved amicably.

“However, records revealed the Medical Board Examination had been recommended between August 21, 2012 and September 11, 2012,” said Nxumalo.
She said the ministry did not implement the recommendation citing the reason being that the officer had been confirmed to be able to work by the National Psychiatric Hospital.
The AG said she was concerned about the length of time taken to resolve the matter, which had made government suffer a loss of E336 252.89 due to a carefree attitude in the use of public funds, causing government to pay wages for no services rendered.
The officer, as at July 2013, has been earning a basic salary of E11 248 but has not been at work.

It’s now E2.7 million to refurbish Manzini RA’s house

MBABANE — The house which was allocated for occupation by the Manzini Regional Administrator (RA)will now cost E2.7million to refurbish.

This is up from an estimated cost of E300 000 which had been stated by the chief buildings engineer when he inspected the house in 2003, pending repairs at the time.
The Auditor General said the renovations were in progress and were expected to be completed by September 2013.

The AG said she had great concern that, due to the delay, the renovations had cost government exorbitantly.

‘Head teacher’s business relationship with school unethical’

MBABANE — The head teacher at Letindze Primary School was allegedly paid E47 989 for various services he had rendered to the school, including money for a goat which was given to Ministry of Education and Training officers.

According to the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ended March 31, 2013, the head teacher, Lucky Mhlanga, was allegedly paid 83 per cent of the schools expenditure. Among the expenses paid were the legal fees and a goat for the officials, the AG said.

The AG said she was concerned about the business relationship of the head teacher with that of the school because it was unethical and had a conflict of interest.
“Further, it is questionable whether the head teacher had declared the business with the Ministry of Finance,” reads the report.
exceed
The AG, Phestecia Nxumalo said over and above, the Schools Accounting Regulations authorised petty cash expenditure in the schools not to exceed expenditure amounting E500 except in a case where the school committee had authorised an increase of the amount to be E1 000.

The head teacher was allegedly paid E3 700 for toner repairs and E1 795 for material from Denman and legal fees among many other items.
The AG also alleged that Mhlanga was in violation of the schools accounting regulations which stated that the head teacher would ensure there was a supporting voucher for each item of expense.

The school was also loaned E500 by one Hlengiwe Msibi who is a resident of Letindze community and the money was allegedly used for transport costs for the head teacher to honour an invitation from the REO and yet at that time the school account had been suspended.
The account had been suspended because the school committee and parents were not happy about the usage of the school fund.