Thamae appointed acting HOD following a fall out between MEC and another HOD

Free State Premier, Me Sefora Ntombela announced today, the appointment of The Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation new acting HOD.

Ms Zola Thamae who is a director and a subordinate to Chief Director has replaced her superior Kutloano Tlhakudi who according to sources was always in tears and was bullied by MEC Limakatso Mahasa.

The working relationship between Mahasa and Tlhakudi was at their all time lowest point and a source in the office of the Premier told Step Up SA News that the MEC of SACR, HOD, and Chief Directors were summoned by Premier last week following an event Mahasa attended and took pictures, only to send them to Director-General Kopung Ralikontsane claiming that Tlhakudi was running her department while she was invited.

A month ago, Mahasa allegedly picked a supplier for the unveiling of the Fezile Dabi statue in Parys and Tlhakudi refused to sign the Purchase Order as Supply Chain Management processes were not followed and the unveiling allegedly cost R1million.

The supplier was given a commitment letter instead and this might have caused Tlhakudi her acting postion as Mahasa started acting strange towards Tlhakudi.

Step Up SA News has picked a pattern that shows Mahasa always has issues with her HODs.

According to a source within the Free State government Mahasa had a problem with Ms. Nthongoa while she was MEC of Social Development, she also had a problem with Stanley Malope at SACR and now Thlakudi.

Ayanda Roda, National Arts activist said.

“It can’t be correct that two HODs(Malope and Tlhakudi) have been removed under a poor leadership of Maki Mahasa, this clearly tells you that the problem is the MEC because we’re told that if you don’t want to approve her own wrong doings then she targets you.

We know that Zola Thamae is good with Sport administration but we the creative sector have been redundant under Mr Vincent Khetha as a chief director and all Districts arts centres in crisis.

This makes us doubt the relationship of the Premier with Maki Mahasa because the Premier knows all wrong things happening withing SACR but is silent about all these Hollywood game in our Sector.”