NATIONAL NEWS - The latest disciplinary hearing into alleged wrongdoing committed in the R246-million upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead was postponed on Thursday – for the third time in a row.
Jayshree Pardesi‚ Pretoria-based national director of key accounts management‚ appeared at her hearing in Durban on Thursday‚ but a fight over incomplete documents meant it could not go ahead.
She is one of 10 public works officials who are accused of flouting tender processes that led to controversial architect Minenhle Makhanya being appointed to lead the Nkandla upgrades project. She originally made her first appearance in October 2014 before the hearings were put on ice.
In the last two months‚ Pardesi’s colleagues‚ Sibusiso Chonco – deputy director for utilisations and contracts in the Durban office – and Rakesh Dhaniram – also a director of key accounts for the national department of public works – had their hearings postponed.
“Genuinely sick” Chonco had his hearing postponed to July due to his illnes‚ while Dhaniram had his hearing postponed indefinitely after his legal team requested more documentation to mount their defence.
