Cloud over Compensation Fund CFO

Officials have raised fresh concerns about procurement practices, governance and appointments at the Compensation Fund. Picture Picture: Gallo Images The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has confirmed its damning findings against former Free State Treasury chief financial officer Monaheng Mokoena over the Covid personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement scandal are unchanged. This raises questions about his subsequent appointment as the Compensation Fund’s CFO.

The confirmation raises questions about the vetting process that resulted in Mokoena’s appointment to one of government’s largest public entities in November 2022. This was more than a year after he resigned from the Free State Treasury while facing adverse SIU findings and criminal investigations arising from a probe. Mokoena resigned from the provincial Treasury on 30 June, 2021.

The SIU finalised its report on 10 December, 2021 and President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly released it in January 2022. Selby Makgotho, SIU spokesperson, confirmed that though the SIU found evidence warranting disciplinary action against Mokoena, no disciplinary proceedings were instituted as he resigned before it could begin. Asked whether the SIU recommended that accountability measures continue after his resignation, Makgotho said: “One would expect the Free State Treasury to inform the new employer about the conduct of a former employee, should they inquire.” He said the SIU was unaware Mokoena had been appointed as Compensation Fund CFO and so did not engage the Department of Employment and Labour or the fund regarding its findings.

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The Compensation Fund has said all necessary screening and vetting processes were conducted before Mokoena’s appointment. The SIU had referred evidence of alleged criminal conduct involving Mokoena to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), while the Hawks in the Free State have confirmed that the two criminal dockets are with prosecutors for a decision on whether to institute criminal charges.

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