Kweku Odame-Takyi, the former North West chief financial officer of the roads and transport department-failed to pay legitimate provincial bills totalling R129-million while he held the cheque book, but managed to spend the capital budget in just five months as he funnelled money to others.

In an unusually detailed statement yesterday, the provincial department of public works said he had been found guilty on 15 of 18 disciplinary charges against him. The panel has yet to decide whether he will keep his job.

Eddie Thebe was fired from his post as chief director in the department in February after a hearing on his role in the same deals.

"He [Odame-Takyi] failed to settle all contractual obligations of the department and to pay all monies owing within the prescribed or agreed period, thereby causing the department financial loss and prejudice when he failed to settle departmental debts . from the financial year 2008/9 totalling R129530 917," the department said.

But he spent R525-million - 97% - of the department's capital budget within the first five months of the financial year on contractors appointed without due process and overpriced equipment bought without competitive bidding.