The Star reported that Thabo Thomas Moagi became the first department of public works official to be dismissed since Nxesi made public his plans to root out corruption in his office.

Moagi was dismissed after being found guilty, in a disciplinary hearing, of accepting payments of R260,000 and a vehicle worth R254,000 from companies of a business man who was awarded 11 lease tenders three years ago.

Moagi was originally charged with his colleague Desmond Simamane for having private dealings with the businessman, but Simamane resigned when the disciplinary hearing started.

Moagi was employed as senior administration officer and project manager in the Johannesburg regional office.

He was earning less than R10 000 a month.

Moagi, who started working for the department on March 1, 2004, occasionally served on the bid evaluation committee that participated in the process of adjudicating and awarding lease tenders. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of misconduct.