Funeral row official reappointed

THE official in the middle of the Nelson Mandela funeral scandal has been rewarded with a further five-year contract as head of the Eastern Cape Treasury Department.

Premier Phumulo Masualle has reappointed Marion Mbina-Mthembu for another term as the department's HoD.

While her appointment was welcomed by both the provincial ANC and DA, her previous tenure as department head was not without controversy.

It was reported earlier this month that Mbina-Mthembu was to be questioned by the Hawks in connection with the spending of state funds for the funeral of Mandela.

It was Mbina-Mthembu who authorised the payment of R250000 into Masualle's personal account while he was finance MEC.

She also revealed at a finance portfolio committee that the Eastern Cape government had spent almost R9-million on Mandela's provincial memorial service in Port Elizabeth – but did not know what exactly the money was spent on.

Eastern Cape Provincial Planning and Treasury MEC Sakhumzi Somyo this week revealed that his department had appointed a private firm to probe the department's involvement in the Mandela funeral. Investigators are expected to question Mbina-Mthembu on the matter.

In Mbina-Mthembu's three years as HoD, the provincial Treasury managed to obtain two clean audit opinions.

She has also opened a case with the Hawks relating to a multimillion-rand tender to supply thousands of Eastern Cape schools with furniture and appointed auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo to conduct a forensic audit into the contract.

Confirming Mbina-Mthembu's appointment, Treasury spokeswoman Nosisa Sogayise said: "We are confident that she will continue with the sterling job that she started in 2011 when she started working in the department. We call on everyone to provide her with the necessary support," Sogayise said.

Both the ANC and the DA in the provincial legislature welcomed Mbina-Mthembu's appointment. ANC MPL and finance portfolio committee chairman Xolile Nqatha said he supported the move.

"She will be able to build on what she has done for the Eastern Cape in stabilising the province's finances," Nqatha said.

DA MPL Bobby Stevenson said Mbina-Mthembu had done a great job and his party welcomed her reappointment.

"The only blemish in her tenure is how she handled the Mandela scandal," Stevenson said. - Mphumzi Zuzile