Confusion over Who is In Charge, as Premier has a Team of Spokespersons

The Free State provincial government’s unrelenting maneuvers have put into sharp focus, the questionable recruitment and human resources process. The office of the Premier Sefora Ntombela currently has three (03) personnel who have been charged with the responsibility of becoming the mouthpiece of the highest office within the province.

Premier of the land-locked and most central province in South Africa ascended to the top job in 2018, following the election of erstwhile premier Sekgobela “Ace” Magashule as ANC Secretary-General at the Nasrec elective conference in 2017 which was held in Johannesburg.

At the time of her appointment, the office of the premier had already been staffed with officials responsible for communication. Setjhaba Maphalla had been in the position of Director:  Communication.

Surprisingly on September 02nd, 2020, a year after Ntombela had been re-appointed on a full five-year team as premier she appointed Sello Pieterson as her spokesman. Pieterson had been with the province’s COGTA department before he was appointed the Premier’s spin-doctor.

This is not unusual considering that all national government departments have heads of communications and spokespersons for the political appointees, who in most instances are referred to as media liaison officers (MLO). The appointments are often linked to the term of office of the political principals, and in the event of a cabinet reshuffle, the media liaison personnel would move with their political heads or have their contracts terminated. 

Two years on, Ntombela appointed former Lesedi FM current affairs presenter Palesa Chubisi as her new MLO, a move that left many surprised, within the public administration circles. In terms of the Guide for the Members of the Executive, politicians including premiers are permitted to make only one appointment for the position of MLO.

This is very unprecedented, even ministers have one spokesperson while the administration (the department) has another who is permanent. 

For example Minister of Education, Angie Motshega has Hope Mogatlhe as her spokesperson while Elijah Mhlanga is the department’s spokesperson. 

We took a look at other provinces just to compare apples with apples and this is what we found. 

In the North West provincial government, Vuyo Ngesi is the spokesperson to the Premier, Boshy Mape while Bonolo Mohlakoana is the acting head of communication in the department. In Limpopo provincial governmentKenny Mathivha is the spokesperson to the Premier, Stanley Mathabatha while Mamogo Ntuli is with provincial communication.

Chubisi who is no stranger to controversy had been involved in a legal wrangle with the SABC over her removal from the public broadcaster’s morning television show – Morning Live, following a public protector’s report into her appointment. The said appointment was made during the tumultuous reign of former Free State news staffer – Hlaudi Motsoeneng who had been appointed the Chief Operating Officer, a position which he left under a cloud following a series of allegations of maladministration and poor governance issues.

While there had been much fan-fare about Chubisi’s appointment, Pieterson is nowhere to be found and it remains unclear what his role is within the communication department of the Office of the Premier. Meanwhile, not all quarters were happy with the news of Chubisi being the new spin doctor in the office of the premier. ANC youth league structure in the Free State has expressed their disapproval according to a media report on this appointment, which according to them should have been preferred over someone whose political affinity with the governing ANC is demonstrable.

Chubisi is not the only questionable appointment made by Ntombela. 

In August 2021 while addressing women indada Ntombela unprovoked mentioned that four vacant HoD positions will be filled by women incapacity or not. 

It’s also worth noting that it was Ntombela who recalled appointed HoDs, Nthongoa and Malope only to idle in Premier’s office for the remainder of their contracts while she appointed Tlhakudi and Phahlo to act at SARC Social Development respectively for what purposes you guess is as good as mine.

She appointed a director, Zola Thamae as acting HoD at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture overlooking Chief Director, Vincent Khetha following a fallout between Kutloano Tlhakudi and NEC Limakatso Mahasa over allegations of MEC interfering in procurement matters.

Ntombela again, increased a salary of a director, Bonzo Nazo citing a wrong regulation while she was MEC for Social Development. 

The increase in question was referred to Public Service Commission and investigations found the supposed poaching by COGTA as stipulated in Ntombela’s letter did not exist. Meaning Ntombela either relied on hearsay or lied when she said Nazo was been sought by COGTA. 

COGTA’s HoD Mokete Duma is on a month-to-month contract for over a year now and Ntombela is happy with that.

Why does Ntombela have two spokespersons? Will this not be an irregular expenditure?

Kopung Ralikontsane, Director General of Free State Provincial Government did not respond to our questions including what do two spokespersons do in the Premier’s office.

This is a developing story.

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