In reply to a Democratic Alliance question, the Department of Human Settlements has admitted that it has suspended the CEO of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) in November 2008. As is customary, he is suspended on full pay and it has cost the taxpayer R1 063 279.30 to date.
However, even though a disciplinary hearing was initiated which took place between 25th May to 5th June, it apparently did not run its full course and was also suspended. The reason sited by the minister is that they are finalising a settlement offer!
This raises more questions than answers. For instance: what the allegations against him are and the reasons for his suspension. Also: why the disciplinary hearing against him did not run its full course, and why a settlement offer is now being discussed?
The DA is dismayed at the continuous trend currently taking place where a number of senior officials are suspended with full benefits without giving reasons why. These officials often then remain on the payroll of their respective departments until their contract period expires, they resign before any action is taken against them or settlement agreements are reached where they are paid huge sums of money for the remainder of their contracts. The recent obscene amount that was offered to the suspended CEO of the bankrupt SABC comes to mind in this regard.
I will be submitting further questions to the minister in this regard to seek some answers to the above questions.
Statement issued by Butch Steyn, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of human settlements, August 20 2009
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