Bhisho orders suspension of education boss

[caption id="attachment_39322" align="alignright" width="300"] CORRUPTION PROBE: Suspended Eastern Cape education boss Mthunywa Ngonzo. Picture: JUDY DE VEGA[/caption]

EASTERN Cape Education Department boss Mthunywa Ngonzo has been suspended, with the decision hitting him so hard that he landed up in hospital yesterday.

Ngonzo was placed on precautionary suspension by MEC Mandla Makupula on Tuesday night pending an investigation into allegations of mismanagement of a R46-million school tender awarded to 14 companies last year.

The superintendent-general is no stranger to controversy, having been described as a "lubricant" that oiled the wheels of corruption in the department by high-ranking officials in an investigation by The Herald two years ago.

Ngonzo refused to comment yesterday, saying only that he was in hospital and receiving treatment for his blood pressure, which had shot up - Zandile Mbabela