House adopts motion to probe BNYC

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday March 12, 2015 17:08

 

Moswaane wants the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng to suspend all termination of employment contracts until investigations are completed.  The motion was tabled on Tuesday after it failed to go through for the last two weeks following the BNYC terminating the contracts of at least 33 employees.    Moswaane told Parliament that a total number of 33 contracts had not been renewed out of a staff complement of 46.

“Proper procedures of the labour law have not been followed.  The remaining staff has been given an extension of six months while some have a longer contract of five years, which leaves everybody in confusion not knowing where the direction of BNYC is heading,” Moswaane said.

On issues of corruption and maladministration, Moswaane told the National Assembly that the council purchased 17 vehicles without tender, sourcing part of the money from Stanlib, an account in which staff gratuity funds are kept.

“The vehicles amounted to over P4.5 million while the rest were bought through a Wesbank loan, of which allegations are that the ministry will clear it. These purchased vehicles were then delivered to the districts that were later told to park them at the district commissioners’ offices while some are parked at the BDF Glen Valley with instruction from the Permanent Secretary (MYSC),” he said.

He added that the BNYC purchased 10 suits at a total cost of P57,000, which were personal spending.  Half of that amount was paid before the delivery suits and later the balance, Moswaane said. He emphasised that the directors within BNYC and some board members signed the procurement, which to a larger extent defeats the purpose of fighting corruption if the top leaders of the organisation are all involved.

The suits, according to Moswaane were bought for some members of the board.

The MP said that the sum of P300,000 was paid to an artist during the One Youth, One Campaign, but the event never took place.

The other issue the MP wants to be investigated is that of the former BNYC executive director.  “A vehicle (B 636 ATL, Toyota double cab), which was contracted by BNYC for the executive director ended up in his hands after the termination of his contract and a colossal amount was paid during termination.  The vehicle was at a certain occasion using a BNYC fuel voucher, kept by the executive director while the vehicle was no longer under the custodian of the BNYC,” he said.  Debating on the motions, the Minister for Youth, Sport and Culture told Parliament that his ministry is conducting an internal and external audit at BNYC.

“I do not have a problem with this motion because we are not hiding anything in my ministry. All these issues have been brought to my attention as a minister and that is the reason why my ministry had decided to conduct an audit. After this audit, if there is any corruption that was done, we will then hand the matter and findings of the audit to the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC). The cars have been parked after we ordered them to do so. I want to urge members of this House not to make any conclusions until the matter has been fully investigated,” Olopeng said.

Francistown South MP Wynter Mmolotsi said that though he supports the motion, he is not comfortable with the government investigating the matter.

“Government investigations always take long and the outcome are not brought here in Parliament.  I suggest that parliament selective committees also carry their own investigations,” Mmolotsi said.  Meanwhile, Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi said that at times parliamentary selective committees do not follow certain procedures that end up putting Parliament in trouble. “For example Matambo Vs Parliament is one of the cases that put Parliament into trouble. Parliament is going to pay a lot of money for failing to follow certain procedures,” Masisi said.