NDB union leader reinstated

OARABILE MOSIKARE
Staff Writer | Friday April 12, 2013 00:00

This was after Morapedi suspended the president of their union, Gilbert Watshipi, and an employee of the bank, Caroline Molefhi. Watshipi and Molefhi were charged with misuse of the bank's property and dishonesty in January this year and suspended for two months. They are back at work after being reinstated in mid-March. Mmegi is reliably informed that the two have not been updated on the status of the charges against them since their reinstatement.

Employees are now questioning what they describe as 'selective justice' because the NDB board did not suspend Morapedi after DCEC notified her that it was investigating her for corruption on February 4 this year. 'The suspension of the union president and another colleague was not fair,' said a source. 'The two were suspended after lesser counts were levelled against them, but the board did not suspend the CEO who is being investigated by DCEC.  'Weighing the charges faced by the two junior employees against those faced by the CEO, it seems the boss is facing serious charges. This is selective justice at its best.' 

DCEC director Rose Seretse wrote to Morapedi asking her to furnish the anti-graft outfit with any information on the accounts or statements of account of the bank that it may require. Among  information she is specifically required to provide relates to governing procurement procedures and tender documents pertaining to the award of a tender of an operations strategy review to Explore Africa Travels. Morapedi has also been asked to furnish DCEC  with all communication correspondence to and from concerned officials. In addition, she must provide all tender documents pertaining to the award of a tender for a Christmas party to Insight Marketing.

DCEC is also investigating the award of an NDB tender to the tune of about P250,000 to American cable network, Fox Television.  Further, the crime busters are interested in documents concerning the engagement of Richard Molosiwa as a consultant for restructuring at NDB and all documents concerning the outsourcing of loans to Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) staff.

DCEC also wants to peruse a P2,5 million loan application by the husband of the CEO, Reuben Morapedi.Also under investigation is the procedure for training and documents concerning the nomination of Tsholofelo Chimela for Research Department training.  The anti-graft outfit is also interested in documents concerning payment of AON Insurance Company.   Reliable sources say only a few NDB officials have given evidence to DCEC so far.  However, NDB head of Branding, Marketing and Communications, Harry Marks, has denied that DCEC is investigating Morapedi. 'We wish to categorically state that the bank is not aware of any corruption charges that have been laid against the CEO,' Marks said this week.

'NDB or even its management, including the CEO, is yet to be found materially wanting in terms of adherence to administrative fairness or good governance practices.' Regarding the suspension of the union president, Marks said it was an employer/employee relationship issue governed by the employment contract between the two parties. 'We are therefore not able to divulge information relating to this matter in order to respect the rights and privileges of each (party) under this contract.' Meanwhile, Mmegi is reliably informed that the bank recently conducted an internal audit that has found critical deviance from procurement procedures at NDB.