Given ongoing misconduct at the entity, the DA demands that ANC Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana immediately dismiss Kedibone Madiehe, the CEO of the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA). It also can’t stop there.
This comes after the latest scandal in which a finance manager at the GPAA was suspended for refusing to pay R21 million for a dodgy contract. The ANC finance minister has been aware of the issue for months, and it’s high time he takes action to protect pensions. This is far from the only instance of alleged wrongdoing.
Earlier in August, it emerged that GPAA signed a nearly R1 billion lease agreement with a company that it appears doesn’t even own the building.
During the coming weeks, the DA chaired Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration will summon the GPAA as well as the PIC to account for recent scandals in the public pension space. The DA has extended the courtesy that the Finance Committee hold joint meetings, but there has thus far been no response from ANC chair Joe Maswanganyi.
In the long run, the DA will be working towards the appointment of completely politically independent and competent civil servants to preside over the public pension space.
In a world where the ANC’s response is either to lead the looting or remain passive while fellow comrades feed, the DA refuses to sit by and do nothing. We require the ANC to act now.