The Land Bank’s chief financial officer Xolile Ncame and Limpopo land claims commissioner Mashile Mokono join the long list of land officials facing suspension, dismissal or disciplinary action. Last year, several Land Bank officials, including CEO Alan Mukoki and chairperson Lungile Mazwai and Land Affairs director general Glen Thomas, were suspended or forced to quit amid speculation that they were victims of a witch hunt by newly appointed land and agriculture minister Lulu Xingwana.
Now sources claim several of the latest suspensions form part of a vicious political power struggle in the sector and will not stand up in court. Mokono was arrested by the Scorpions in December, accused of fraudulently creating bogus claimants and pocketing the settlement money. He denies any wrongdoing. Mokono said Xingwana had suspended him on 18 March with immediate effect, even though he had not been formally charged yet. The commission previously indicated Mokono wouldn’t be suspended until charges had been laid.
He joins several senior executives at the Land Bank, including head of risk Gerhard Hechter and chief financial officer Xolile Ncame. City Press recently reported Ncame’s suspension for “alleged incompetence that caused the bank to lose more than R1 billion”. The CFO said he hadn’t been given reasons for his suspension, which he planned to fight in the Labour Court. He suspects his downfall was linked to a letter he had written to external auditors Ernst & Young, raising concerns about the number of acting bank executives who were “out of their depth” and expressing his views on issues that were “problematic to the sustainability” of the bank.
Land Bank sources said Ncame also objected to being forced to sign off on major expenses he’d considered irregular. Hechter, meanwhile, was accused of forging the signature of former acting CEO Phil Mohlahlane on a letter to his creditors. He was fired following a disciplinary hearing where he was found guilty of forgery, dishonesty and bringing the bank into disrepute. Hechter denies all the charges and also plans to fight it out in the Labour Court. – Stephan Hofstätter
