Three Gauteng housing department officials had received around R760 000 in pay while on suspension, says the DA.
Democratic Alliance housing spokesperson Janet Semple said that, according to a written reply from MEC for local government and housing Humphrey Mmemezi, one employee had been suspended for 21 months pending investigations into alleged fraudulent activity. The staffer had received almost R450 000 to date.
The other two had been suspended for 10 months, respectively receiving R175 874 and R139 461 in salary payments.
"How long can sourcing information for an investigation take? These staff should have either been fired or re-instated by now," she said.
It was a waste of taxpayers' money and a travesty of justice, she said.
The department justified delayed action by saying it was still sourcing information required, said Semple.
Comment was not immediately available from the MEC's spokesperson.
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