Cape Town - Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale has undertaken to get to the bottom of an alleged case of conflict of interest and corruption, which has rocked the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).
At a briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday, he revealed that Vanessa Somiah - a senior official with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) - tasked with investigating allegations of corruption within the NHBRC, had been linked to allegations of corruption within the organisation she was investigating.
Sexwale said that while she was writing a report for his department, she, at the same time, was "secretly being offered or applied" for a job with the NHBRC in collusion with its chief executive, Sipho Mashinini.
In that job, Sexwale said Somiah was set to earn over R1 million a year, which was twice as much as she was earning at the SIU.
SIU head Willie Hofmeyr was also present during the briefing.
Earlier, the minister had addressed Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on the matter.
"It came to light that, at the same time as she was in the process of working on the report for the Department of Human Settlements, she was ostensibly negotiating with, and subsequently became employed by the NHBRC at almost twice the salary she was earning at the SIU.
"Within weeks of her employment, the NHBRC whilst conducting some kind of disciplinary action against its employees, listed Ms Vanessa Somiah as a witness against some of them who were whistle blowers whilst she was at the SIU.
"I regard all this as not only devious but shocking, to realise how some of those who are supposed to be in authority in our campaign against corruption can undertake such reprehensible measures to undermine this fight," he said.
The SIU was established by the Presidential Proclamation in terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, while the NHBRC was set up in terms of the Housing Consumer Protection Measures Act.
"Let me assure everyone... that no stone will be left unturned to get to the bottom of the saga. The fight against corruption must not just be spoken about, it must be seen to be done," the minister said.
Sexwale highlighted that he was "in favour of the law taking its full course" in the matter and that he was not going to "take [any] prisoners."
Apart from the alleged corruption involving Somiah and Mashinini, Sexwale said the ongoing investigation could implicate more people.
Vukile Mehana, NHBRC chairman, said although Mashinini was being investigated, he was still at work under "a letter of final warning for six months."
The minister has advised the NHBRC that investigations around Mashinini "ought not to be conducted whilst he is in office."
He has further requested the NHBRC to explain Somiah's "irregular appointment".
