Justice Dept takes hard line on misconduct with dozens of officials dismissed, suspended

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Justice is taking a hard line on misconduct, with dozens of officials booted out, suspended, or facing criminal charges in a major internal clean-up.

In the current financial year, the department handled over 220 labour relations matters and has already finalised 164 of them.

Fifty-four officials have been dismissed, mostly for serious offences ranging from fraud and corruption to theft, dishonesty, and abscondment.

Another 41 have been suspended, with some cases still under investigation.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said the outcomes reflect a stronger, faster response to gross misconduct, with 15 of the dismissals happening in just the last four months.

Spokesperson Terrence Manase said: "Minister Kubayi also lauded the speed and efficiency with which these matters were handled, stating that it dispels the myth that the state is slow or incapable of acting decisively, especially in dealing with dismissals of officials for misconduct."

The department said its actions supported broader government efforts to build an ethical, capable state and to restore public trust in the justice system.