“The problem with incompetence is its inability to recognize itself.” ― Orrin Woodward
This quote comes to mind when one looks at the Free State Premier, Sefora Ntombela and her inability to take decisions and lead the government in the right direction.
It’s almost a year (17 May 2021) since Ntombela placed Police, Roads and Transport Head of Department, Sipho Mtakati on suspension due to his alleged failure to maintain roads as cited by Ntombela in her letter to Mtakati.
To date, Mtakati is yet to appear before a disciplinary hearing and is on full pay while provincial roads are deteriorating.
Prior to that, on the 25 March 2021, Ntombela tried to reshuffle Mtakati to Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, a move he successfully challenged in court. Court documents show that the Free State government has taken the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal.
It was not surprising to see Mtakati placed on suspension after delivering a bloody nose to the Ntombela, Mtakati’s contract ends on the 31 March 2023 and he will not go cheaply.
Those in Mtakatis corner say if Ntombela is honest and fair, she would have also placed Human Settlement HOD on suspension for payments made for incomplete work as reported by Auditor General South Africa.
Step Up SA News has it on good authority that government buildings leak whenever it rains and we have pictures of the O R Tambo building foyer filled with water.
In August 2021, while addressing women during the provincial health department’s celebration of women in the health sector, Ntombela said all vacant HOD positions would be filled by women, capacity or not, yet she replaced a woman HOD at Social Development with a male.
Ntombela replaced Mokone Nthongoa and kept her in the office of the Premier where she was redundant for two years while she appointed TJ Phahlo as acting HOD at Social Development, a move seen as anti-women for a Deputy President of the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL).
It has been five months since Ntombela committed that four vacant HOD positions at Treasury, Police, Roads and Transport, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation and Social Development would be filled, but the number of vacant HOD positions is now seven as others are now on month-to-month contracts, that means out of eleven HODs only four are permanent, that says a lot about Ntombela.
In November 2021 Ntombela shocked everyone by appointing a director as acting HOD following a fall out between MEC Limakatso Mahasa and the then acting HOD Kutloano Tlhakudi.
Tlhakudi’s sin, according to sources, was her refusal to sign off the alleged R1 million PO for the unveiling of Fezile Dabi’s statue, which sources allege Mahasa picked a supplier and didn’t follow Supply Chain Processes.
Instead of intervening, Ntombela replaced Tlhakudi with Zola Thamae, who is a director overlooking Vincent Khetha, a Chief Director.
Tlhakudi was the third HOD to bite the dust after Mokone Nthongoa and Stanley Malope at Social Development and SARC respectively. The common denominator was Mahasa, but she remains in her position while everyone is pushed.
Also in November 2021 we published an article in which Ntombela had allegedly irregularly increased a salary of Bongo Nazo, who is the manager in Mahasa’s office citing a wrong regulation to justify her unlawful increase and is reported to be a close ally of Ntombela.
A source from Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) who spoke on condition of anonymity said Ntombela is compromised.
“Lets be honest, Ntombela is the compromised, she was part of those who benefitted under Magashule even her kids and friends benefitted so she is just like the rest. Everything is happening under her watch and she does nothing like she is not bothered.”
Another source from African National Congress (ANC) said for government to have strong and decisive leaders the ruling party must produce leaders and quoted Makanyane Mmopedi.
“We don’t have leaders in Free State, our party and government are leaderless. We are now experiencing what Makanyane Mmopedi said (in the absence of the best the worst becomes your best).”
He continued. “Go through the entire cabinet leadership of the ANC and give me two names of those you think are better than Ntombela, just two. You will struggle.
These are Magashule’s people, the IPC changed nothing, this is a spat I’m the face of those who challenged the provincial conference. Same at municipalities check the xalovee of our mayors.”
Step U SA News team checked audit reports for Premier’s office since Ntombela was appointed and she got a disclaimer in her first year and qualified audits in 2019/20 and 2020/2021.
In essence Ntombela has never had clean audit.
The office of the premier did not respond to our questions.
It’s long overdue for a Provincial reshuffle. The people of the province are suffering under this leadership