Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – The department of Social Development in Free State in again in the spot light not for the missing R2.5 million for EPWP project, nor procurement of 20 laptops for R500 000 but for bursaries.
Leaked letter signed Advocate TJ Phahlo on the 08 August 2022, informing staff about cancelation of bursaries despite a circular advertising bursaries (30 May 2022) has angered staff members after it turned out Nelisiwe Ntombela, has been awarded a bursary even for failed modules against Treasury regulations.
“Kindly be advised that I directed that no new bursaries should be awarded to employees during the 2022/23 financial year.
This directive is due to budget reprioritization, which necessitated by the enormous pressures on the fiscus and obligation to make every effort to reduce the compensation expenditure. Therefore, employees are hereby notified that part-time bursaries as advertised in circular dated 30 May 2022 (Annexure A) will not be awarded”, reads the letter from Adv Phahlo.
NEHAWU member how spoke on condition of anonymity said this is shocking.
“While this may make sense but the DPSA provides for the administration costs of the PSETA, while the departments would ring-fence the 1% of training, this is shocking.
What did our acting Chief Director and HR do with our 1% skills levy for since it was not used?”
Further investigations reveal while the department cancelled the bursaries, Nelisiwe Ntombela, the acting Chief Director of the same directorate responsible for bursaries was allegedly awarded a bursary worth R300 000 for modules she failed.
Ntombela who is the daughter-in-law of former Premier has been acting since 2020 while experienced staff were overlooked and this was due to her proximity with former Premier.
Another source in the senior management team said the problems at Social Development is caused by Freddy Finger and Nelisiwe Ntombela.
“We have Freddy Finger, HR Director who can’t say this can’t be done, it’s wrong.
Central to this Mpho Crawford, she insisted this payments be processed despite clear statement that Nelisiwe failed the modules and this has been happening for far too long, under the watch of HoD.
At some point Freddy Finger even said he was instructed by HoD to do training so HoD Phahlo can’t say he did not know. The training in question collapsed.”
Social Development is one of three departments without a permanent HoD after the former premier moved its HoD to Premier’s office and Phahlo has been acting since.
Another department is Khothule bound, Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation after Ntombela moved HoD Stanley Malope to Premier’s office.
Tshidi Koloi, MEC for Social Development did not answer our questions despite a commitment from Stefanie Lockman-Naidoo who is her chief of staff.
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Stinking business. I am so disappointed.