Four years after being suspended, and undergoing long investigation, Eastern Cape Health’s Director of Communications Siyanda Manana has been cleared of all wrongdoing, reports Daily Dispatch.
He had been placed on precautionary suspension in 2021 after various accusations were levelled against him by the department’s Deputy Director of Communications and then spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo.
Manana had accused his deputy of presenting an allegedly fraudulent matric certificate when applying for a job at the department years previously.
Kupelo has since pleaded not guilty in the East London commercial crimes court to charges of fraud, uttering and forgery.
While Manana, who was suspended in July 2021, was never officially charged and was recalled to work in June 2022, a report clearing him has only recently surfaced.
He had been accused of a number of transgressions, including being appointed to the position despite not meeting the requirements for the job.
Kupelo had also accused Manana of nepotism, being involved in irregular expenditure of more than R1.2m when he allegedly wrongly procured 760 framed photographs of the late Dr Phumza Dyantyi, then an MEC, and for allegedly obtaining a department bursary to study law fraudulently.
Details of the allegations emerged when Kupelo wrote to the Public Protector’s office in 2021, asking it to investigate his boss.
The matter was reportedly referred back to the Health Department by that office.
The department then conducted its own internal probe, which cleared Manana.
The report on the investigation was later challenged by Kupelo, who raised concerns that the fraud management unit’s manager, who had conducted the investigation, was related to Manana.
The department’s administration bosses then decided to have the report reviewed and also asked the provincial Treasury to assist in investigating the allegations.
But the forensic audit units of both the department and the Treasury later found “no evidence to support the allegations” against Manana, said spokesperson Pumelele Godongwana on Friday.
The Health Department’s administration boss, Dr Rolene Wagner, said: “The investigation found that the allegations could not be substantiated and recommended that the matter be closed.”
Asked why the findings had not been released, Wagner said: “As this was an internal process, the outcome was not made public.”
Manana confirmed he had finally been cleared of any wrongdoing, saying it had been an obstacle to his plans to one day work as a private attorney.
Kupelo said on Sunday that although he was a complainant in the matter, he had not been provided with any report or evidence indicating his boss had been cleared of the allegations.
“I do not know what the department may be referring to, as my complaint was lodged with the Public Protector, and not the department,” he said, adding that he would only be satisfied with the outcome of such a probe once he had been formally informed by the Public Protector’s Office.
The Public Protector’s spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe, could not be reached for comment.
Daily Dispatch article – Siyanda Manana finally cleared of all wrongdoing (Restricted access)
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