Two senior KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) officials who were suspended in September last year for alleged financial misconduct that occurred before the May 2024 general elections have resigned. 

Yali Joyi, the former chief financial officer (CFO), resigned on January 6, and Ntombizethu Dlamini, the director for local economic development (LED) project support, followed in her footsteps a few days later.
 
The duo were among the development’s top five senior officials. 

In her letter of resignation, Joyi said her departure was not an admission of guilt, but a necessary move because the matter was taking a toll on her health. 

“This communication serves to advise that I hereby tender my resignation from the Department with immediate effect. Please take note that my decision to resign must not in any way be misconstrued as admission of any of the allegations which have been levelled against me and that I have made it purely out of expediency having regard to the negative toll and effect that this matter is having on my health as well as my family,” Joyi said in her letter. 

Dlamini sent an almost similar letter to the department and immediately vacated her lucrative position. 

The director for supply chain management, Sibusiso Mncadi, is still on suspension with two other directors for credit management (V Lugongolo) and the deputy director for public participation, S Dumakude. 

The five officials are not the only suspended senior managers in the KwaZulu-Natal Cogta department. 

Nathi Mpungose, the chief director of the traditional affairs division in the department, has been iced. 
Sources said Mpungose faces allegations of corruption and poor management. 

He was given a chance to defend himself but chose not to respond.

All these officials are yet to face disciplinary hearings. 

The spokesperson for the department, Senzo Mzila, did not respond when African Times asked him about the high profile resignations.