MEDIA STATEMENT ON SUSPENSION OF EMPLOYEES IMPLICATED IN THE AUDITORGENERAL 2018/19 AUDIT FINDINGS REPORT 1. The Department (IPID) after receiving the Auditor General of South Africa’s report (AGSA Final Management Report - 2019) started with the implementation of the report` recommendations which resulted in putting some of its Executive Managers on precautionary suspension. The decision was taken to afford the implicated officials time and space to clear their names in all the allegations that were leveled against them. 2. The findings and recommendations of the Auditor-General are based on a comprehensive audit and are credible as the Auditor-General is an institution mandated by the Constitution to strengthen constitutional democracy. 3. The Department believes that the presence of the implicated officials at the workplace particularly as Senior Managers might jeopardise the internal process in dealing with the alleged misconduct. 4. Suspension of the implicated officials is a precautionary measure and does not constitutes a judgement. 5. It is anticipated that the Department will hold disciplinary hearings for the suspended officials within 60 days of their suspension. 6. The Department has in absence of the suspended officials, appointed other Senior officials to act in order to ensure the continuation of service delivery. 7. Since this is an internal matter, the Department will request to be afforded a space to deal with its internal process without compromising and unfairly prejudicing any of the implicated parties. ENDS