Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – The Premier of Free State, Mxolisi Dukwana is accused of urinating on the ministerial handbook following the absorption of politically linked contracts employees into administration without advertising positions.
Dukwana who became the chairperson of the ruling party in the provincial congress succeeded the erstwhile Sefora Ntombela as Premier in February and occupied the hot seat, has faced a rebellion from unions over a decision allegedly taken by the ANC in the province not to recall politically linked contracts.
Members of the Public Service Association (PSA) in Free State said they are aggrieved and disappointed in Premier.
“We honestly had hopes that the new Premier will do things differently, it looks like this province is cursed.
During the tenures of two previous premiers namely; Magashule and Ntombela people were hired by proximity despite not qualifying and if Dukwana falls into the same trap, then all hope is lost.
He is literally urinating on the ministerial handbook.”
Dukwana is accused of moving staff linked to Ntombela’s contract into administration after former Chief of Staff, Manko Tsoehlisi was appointed as acting Director Special Program, a position previously held by Zino Mogorosi while former Ntombela’s spokesperson, Palesa Chubisi was appointed Director Media Strategy and Liaison without positions advertised.
In February we reported how Ntombela appointed her staff into administration.
Sources in the office of the Premier allege Chubisi has replaced the official Director: Media Strategy and Liaison, Thabang Mokoka who is reportedly redundant.
A member of the PEC who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was a collective decision by the ANC not to recall anyone this despite Public Service Regulations and the Ministerial handbook giving clear guidelines.
According to Public Service Regulations as soon as the EA leaves office his or her team must follow a month later.
“Filling of posts in Office of executive authorities and Deputy Ministers.
An executive authority may only fill vacancies in the Office of an executive authority or a Deputy Minister by means of
(a) an appointment in terms of section 9 of the Act for the term of office of the incumbent executive authority or Deputy Minister which will terminate at the end of the first month after the month which the term of that executive authority or Deputy Minister terminates for any reason;
(b) a transfer in terms of section 14 of the Act, provided that the employment status of the transferred employees as permanent or temporary, as the case may be, shall remain unaffected by the transfer.
(2) Subject to the appointment criteria in regulation 67 (5) (b) to (d), an executive authority may fill a post in the Office of the executive authority or a Deputy Minister in that executive authority’s portfolio, in terms of subregulation (1) without complying with regulations 65 (1); (3) and (4).
While EAs are allowed to appoint staff without advertisement they have to meet the requirements.
“Regulation 66 (2) of the PSR provides that appointments in posts in the office of an Executive Authority may be made without following advertisement processes, but the suitability of such candidates must still be assessed on the basis of the appointment criteria as per Regulation 67 (5) (b).”
PSC in Free State found the late Education MEC guilty of appointing a person without matric to a position that required a three year qualification.
There are many of those in the Free State Provincial Government and there is no appetite to correct these irregular appointments.
DA Free State leader, Roy Jankelsohn said they have voted against the Premier’s bloated budget for years.
“The DA has voted against the budget vote in department of the premier for many years due to the bloated budget and that it has become a source of income for ex-politicians including MECs.”
Mxolisi Dukwana, Free State Premier did not respond to our questions and there are more and more people coming forth with irregularly appointed people in Free State Government.
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