The managers include the Chief Director for District Operations, Kenneth Gill, and senior managers in the districts of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (Vryburg); Dr Kenneth Kaunda (Potchefstroom) and Bojanala (Rustenburg).The districts managers are Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi, Collette Antony, and Thabo Ndlovu.

Among those also served with letters are Director Roads Planning and Design Alfred Mafune, and Acting Chief Director Road Infrastructure Mbulelo Tundzi.The suspensions comes hard on the heels of the conclusion of government-commissioned forensic investigation by the private company, Open Waters, which began its probe in December 2014.

The department is of the view that the action taken to date against the six senior managers is part of consequence management aimed at putting in place corrective measures. The department has also put contingency measures in place to ensure that the suspension of the five does not affect the rendering of service delivery to communities.

The department could neither deny nor confirm if more employees could be implicated in the forensic report, and whether more officials were likely to be suspended following the reports' findings and recommendation.

Statement Supplied