By Sihle Mavuso
The KwaZulu-Natal transport department has been criticised for offering a top position to an official who, a few years ago, left a district municipality under a cloud of fraud and corruption allegations.
The department led by MEC Sipho Hlomuka offered Sabelo Madela the position of chief director of transport infrastructure and district services.
This is even though a few years ago Madela faced corruption and fraud allegations at the Umkhanyakude District Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where he was the director of technical services.
When the council was about to launch a full-scale investigation into the allegations, he left and joined another state-owned entity and kept a low profile.
He only emerged recently to be offered the top position in the transport department, sparking concerns that his shady past was allegedly overlooked to offer him the post.
According to a letter leaked to Scrolla.Africa, Madela had five working days to accept or decline the offer. He has yet to accept it.
The department’s spokesperson, Kwanele Ncalane, defended the decision to offer the position to Madela.
He said an external company conducted a suitability test for Madela, which came back “positive”.
Ncalane added that Madela is an engineer and meets the requirements for the position.
Pictured above: MEC Sipho Hlomuka whose department has hired Madela despite his past.
Source: Facebook
