Suspended City transport commissioner Melissa Whitehead has been receiving her R250 000 salary a month, thanks to taxpayers money even though she was suspended in January 2018.
Whitehead, earns just more than R3 million annually with benefits and will continue to receive the benefits until an independent investigation into her conduct is completed.
Luthando Tyhalibongo confirmed that the commissioner had been suspended and is still receiving her salary despite sitting at home.
“Disciplinary proceedings have been instituted. However, it must be noted that this is an independent process and must be allowed to run its course. The City cannot commit to timelines as the process is independent,” Tyhalibongo said.
Whitehead was suspended after allegations of improper conduct, mostly covered by law firm Bowmans’ investigative report.
The report by Bowmans’ detailed suspected corruption with regards to a tender for electric buses by BYD, a Chinese manufacturer.
The report says that Whitehead and other officials had changed the itinerary on an overseas trip to include a stay in a hotel paid for by BYD executives.
Brett Herron, one of the officials on the trip had told the investigators that they had also received meals from the BYD executives.
BYD was irregularly appointed in the R286 million tender, allegedly thanks to Whitehead, who had pushed for them to be appointed.
A manufacturing plant would have been opened in Atlantis but the process was halted midway.
A pilot project worth R128 million saw the assembly of 11 buses that remain parked in a Blackheath bus yard.
More: IOL