AG sacks ex-ICASA CFO

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 04 Dec 2007

The office of the auditor-general (AG) has dismissed Bridget Mohlala, a business executive for operations and transactions management. This follows an independent disciplinary enquiry that found her guilty on various charges of financial misconduct.

Mohlala is the former CFO of the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA). She left ICASA in December 2005 to join the AG, amid allegations that she stole R110 000 from the regulator`s safe. The senior prosecutor in charge of this case said in February that there was insufficient evidence to charge her.

ICASA`s 2005/6 financial report indicates the R110 000 was written off as a loss.

Ten months after Mohlala joined the AG, with the ICASA criminal investigation still hanging over her head, the AG placed her on protective suspension, following allegations of financial misconduct in her business unit.

"The auditor-general is investigating certain transactions within its transactional and operational management unit, headed by Bridget Mohlala," said AG spokesperson Africa Boso at the time.

Zero tolerance

Boso says the chairman of the independent enquiry has since found Mohlala guilty of serious misconduct, including financial mismanagement, as stipulated in the Public Audit Act of 2004, and recommended she be dismissed with immediate effect.

The AG`s top management approved the chairman`s recommendation, Boso says. "Ms Mohlala`s dismissal was effective from 3 December 2007.

"While we acknowledge and value Ms Mohlala`s contribution during her time in this office, as the country`s supreme audit institution, we always encourage our employees to lead by example at all times when it comes to dealing with public finances. As one of the custodians of the taxpayers` resources, we have zero tolerance for financial mismanagement."

It is not yet clear whether criminal charges will be laid against Mohlala, as the AG had not responded to questions on this issue at the time of publication.