Thanks for what?

I READ with great interest a statement from the Ministry of Arts and Culture that it has entered into a settlement agreement with its Director-General (DG), Mr Sibusiso Xaba.

The DG, it said, had been placed on suspension in 2014 as forensic investigations proceeded regarding, among others, ‘irregular expenditure and non-adherence to procedure’.

This after the Auditor-General’s report on the Arts and Culture Ministry identified ‘the severity and growth of irregular expenditure, non-adherence to procedures and possible lack of action against officials who made and or permitted irregular expenditure’.

Amazingly, the statement ended with these words: ‘The Ministry thanks Mr Xaba for his contribution over the past few years and wishes him well in his future endeavours.’

Thanks for what?!

Are we now at the point where we are grateful for gross mismanagement, poor leadership, or worse?

And does the ‘settlement agreement’ include a performance bonus, which seems to be the norm?

JUST ASKING