Mpumalanga suspends gaming board chief

MPUMALANGA'S Gaming Board (MGB)has suspended its chief executive, Barry Mashigo, pending a forensic audit into suspected financial mismanagement at the parastatal. MGB chairwoman, Daphney Mashile-Nkosi, confirmed on Tuesday that an independent audit was launched after a whistleblower leaked three incriminating documents to the board of directors two weeks ago. Mashigo and the MGB's administrative manager Muriel Naude, who were both on holiday at the time, were immediately suspended. "Both officials have impeccable track records, but the allegations are so serious that we were forced to act immediately," said Mashile-Nkosi. "We decided to suspend both Mashigo and Naude to make sure no-one tampered with either witnesses or documentary evidence." Mashile-Nkosi declined to discuss the alleged mismanagement for fear of prejudicing Price Waterhouse Coopers' forensic probe. She did, however, confirm that the allegations centred on financial impropriety. (African Eye News Service)