MEC rehires sibling at SACR after he was shown the door at DESTEA

The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) MEC Limakatso Mahasa is yet again under the spotlight, this time with the department being under investigation for its alleged irregular appointment of her sibling.

Following our article titled Power struggle in Free State, the department is in shambles, this is after we reported that Sibongile Mtethwa who is the registrar at SACR is the child of Mahasa’s aunt while Mr Guvuzela PLO is the MEC’s brother-in-law according to sources, more shocking details have emerged.

Step Up SA News has it on good authority that while Mahasa was MEC of Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs
(DESTEA) she allegedly employed her brother Kgotso Mafokosi and he got fired in April allegedly by Nozi Nkoe, former acting DDG: Enviromental Affairs.

MEC Makalo Mohale allegedly recalled her acting as DDG.

According to independent sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization, Mahasa promised to make Nkoe Deputy Director General in exchange of her brother being employed and he worked in reserves only for Nozi to fire him earlier this year after Mahasa reneged on her promise.

Another source said Nkoe fired him like a dog.

“She fired him like a dog without following any procedure when her arrangement with Mahasa fell odd.”

Following his alleged dismissal from DESTEA her sister Mahasa once again came to his rescue and rehired him at SACR where she is currently the MEC.

A source with intimate knowledge at DESTEA told this publication that Mafokosi’s last day at work was 30 April 2021.

“Kgotso Mafokosi’s last day at DESTEA was 30 April 2021 but he started work at SACR on the 1 June 2021 as security administrator.”

Tiisetso Makhele, acting Head of Communications at DESTEA confirmed Mafokosi’s employment.

“We would like to confirm that Mr. Kgotso Mafokosi was appointed as Registry Clerk: Office of the MEC, in 2018, and his contract was linked to that of the MEC. He was later appointed on a contract as Administration Officer in the Office of the Director: Biodiversity and Criminal Investigations.”
With regard to allegations that he was fired by Nkoe, Makhele said. “His contract was until 30 April 2021, and the contract was not renewed.”

Its clear Mafokosi joined DESTEA when his sister became MEC in 2018 however its not clear why his contract was not terminated when the MEC left DESTEA for SACR as his contract was linked to a political term.

The Ministerial Handbook was applied during 2018 that Office Staff
Complement of the Executive Authority be appointed either:
i) on a contract linked to the political term of the office of the Executing Authority
concerned, as envisaged in section 12A (3) (a) of the Public Service Act, or
ii) as full-time public servants.

So in essence Mahasa employed her brother at DESTEA.

MEC Mahasa did not respond to our questions.