Bradley Slingers, the CFO at the Department of Roads and Public Works, has been dismissed after being found guilty of misconduct, insubordination and bringing the department's reputation into disrepute.
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THE CHIEF financial officer (CFO) at the Department of Roads and Public Works, Bradley Slingers, has been dismissed after being found guilty of misconduct, insubordination, and bringing the department’s reputation into disrepute.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which stem from an incident where he was caught at a roadblock on the N12 on November 16, 2023.
Slingers was unable to explain how he came into possession of R679,200 in cash, which was found stashed in the boot and under the driver’s seat of his vehicle.
The BMW that he was driving had an expired licence disc and outdated registration number plate.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in the Northern Cape granted a final forfeiture order against Slingers in November 2024.
The chairperson of the internal disciplinary hearing, advocate Smanga Sethene, believed that his honesty and integrity had been called into question due to his inability to account for the money, given the prevalence of corruption within the public sector.
“His deliberate failure to explain the source of the money has dented the employer-employee relationship, the image of the employer and provincial government as a whole.”
He added that Slingers was “unrepentant” about his conduct and no credible explanation was offered as to why he was at a roadblock instead of at work.
“Such serious allegations of misconduct cannot be left unexplained. The employee did not provide any explanation to the head of department (HOD), Dr Johnny Mackay. Instead, Slingers stated that the employer must prove its case against him.
“To date, he has failed to take this disciplinary hearing into his confidence in respect of the origin of the money.”
Sethene stated that while the defence claimed that Slingers was off-duty at the time, he had omitted to submit his leave records or proof that he had permission to be out of the office.
“His failure to explain the source of the funds to his supervisor amounts to gross insubordination,” he added.
Sethene pointed out that the “inexplicable” amount of money smacked of the “proceeds of crime”.
“The reasonable inference to be drawn, is that he knew he was in possession of the proceeds of crime. Slingers’ deafening silence implies that he was protecting the identity of a possible accomplice to a possible allegation of bribery. His disrespect or total disregard of the law extends to driving a vehicle with an expired registration.”
Sethene believed that dismissal was the only appropriate sanction, regardless of Slingers’ 12 years of service and his pleas to rather be demoted or suspended without pay due to being the sole breadwinner.
“This nature of conduct is detrimental to the image of the employer. If left without consequences, it stands to create chaos within the department if one of the most senior managers reporting to Dr MacKay cannot be held to account.”
He added that a CFO was expected to conduct himself professionally and in compliance.
“An employer has to trust that during office hours, unless directed otherwise, employees must be at their desks working and not be in possession of inexplicable amounts of money at a roadblock. Anything that is done without the permission of the employer amounts to misconduct. In this instance, the employer submits that it can no longer trust its CFO.”
DA provincial leader Harold McGluwa recommended that criminal charges be laid and that consequence management be implemented.
Department of Roads and Public Works spokesperson Zandisile Luphahla on Wednesday confirmed Slingers’ dismissal as CFO.
“The MEC for Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, has received a letter from the former CFO’s attorney. While the contents of the letter remain confidential, the MEC is applying her mind and will respond accordingly,” he added.