Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – In what seems like what the Free State Provincial Government needed, decisive and solution-oriented leadership, newly appointed Premier Joyce Mathae might have proved to be a catalyst or unless it’s an opportunity.
Following our series of articles around the unlawful secondment of ADv KS Mokgobo, a SCM deputy director from Free State Education to Health after Treasury declined the transfer, she has now been sent back to Education by Free State Premier, Joyce Mathae.
According to sources with intimate knowledge, Joyce held a meeting with senior management from different departments on Friday and when Sinah January, Chief Director SCM introduced herself, Joyce asked if she was the “one” from Education to which Sinah said no.
It was at this point according to sources Joyce demanded to know what happened for deputy director from Education ended at Health before she instructed she go back to Education effective immediately.
Mokgobo’s secondment to Health followed the appointment of Sinah as Chief Director after Mathabo Leeto, the ANC Provincial Treasurer pleaded with the deployment committee for January’s blessing.
If the ANC can avail the deployment committee minutes all wil be revealed.
Among those in attendance in that deployment meeting was Dibolelo Mahlatsi, deputy provincial secretary of ANC, and it’s alleged she was opposed to that, however, she lost out.
Dibolelo is involved in the unlawful appointment herself as the then director: Youth at Social Development and she was appointed ahead of Dibuo Mabitle who came first and was the preferred choice but miraculously, Dibolelo was appointed.
A court ruled in favor of NEHAWU and Mabitle, and Social Development was ordered to pay Mabitle R3 million.
How Joyce intervenes here will indicate if Mokgobo’s matter was addressed objectively or opportunistically in the ANC’s internal battles.
While Joyce should be applauded for taking swift action, what about cases that are still hanging at Police, Roads, and Transport where people were suspended and/or fired because they are from Parys or labeled Magashule’s people?
What about Ntamo who was re-employed on a higher notch despite a labor court ruling under her watch?
Will Joyce take the same posture in the Public Service Commission’s findings against Treasury HoD, Masechaba Sesing who is reportedly close to the deputy provincial secretary of ANC, her ally?
Will she attend to the complaints by Social Development staff that ended up on the desk of President Ramaphosa?
Who can forget the unlawful transfer and humiliation suffered by James Zuko, a 56-year-old who was forcefully moved from Human Settlement against public service regulations on transfers?
If Joyce is only focusing on her battles with Mathabo Leeto amid their interest in the ANC provincial race then her actions are opportunistic and just like Thabo Mbeki handled Jacob Zuma, they will come back and bite her.
The appointment of DDG at Community Safety, Roads and Transport will once again prove that Advocate Molotsi from RMTC is rewarded for how he handled the disciplinary hearing of Papi Masilo.
Molotsi was interviewed on 11 June 2024 and Premier was on the panel.
Least we forget how companies were appointed at Community Safety, Roads and Transport despite scoring lower than 24 points threshold on functionality but were appointed, and the CUT potholes patching contract, all under her watch.
When these companies were appointed the SCM director was transferred to fleet and only returned after this mess.
Has action been taken against the person who made the blunder? No!
There are less taxis on roads as her rules( while still at community, roads and transport) work against taxi owners.
HUMAN SETTLEMENT HOD
Absent in that meeting was HoD for Human Settlement, Mosa Masemene, and if what Joyce allegedly said about her is anything anything to go by, we might see another Ntombela v Mtakati saga play in the open.
Joyce in the meeting alleged threw shade at Mosa having said she will take the government to court if she is transferred but wh did Mosa confide in and how did the Premier get know?
RESHUFFLING OF HODS
Joyce is set to reshuffle HoDs and she has been in office not even a month, what tools of analysis has she used?
Departments are likely to have new MECs and HoDs, it remains to be seen if hods on probation will also be reshuffled.
The three HoDs on 1 year probation are:
- Steve Tshabalala
- Advocate TJ Phahlo
- Dr. Masego Tshabalala
Below is the table of contract expiry dates of Chief Information Officers of the Free State Provincial Government.
- Kopung Ralikontsane Director General of FSPG 31 08 2024
- Dr. Mbukelo Nokwequ (DESTEA) 30 09 2024
- Advocate Tsoarelo Malakoane (Education) 31 03 2027
- Dr. Masego Tshabalala (Community Safety, Police and Roads) 30 09 2028
- Masechaba Sesing (Treasury) 31 08 2027
- Ernest Mohlahlo (Public Works) 30 09 2025
- Dr. Masiteng (DARD) 30 09 2025
- Sugar-man Ramakarane (COGTA) 31 08 2027
- Godfrey Mahlatsi (Health) 30 09 2024
- Mosa Masemeni (Human Settlement) 31 08 2027
- Advocate TJ Phahlo (Social Development) 30 09 2028
- Steve Tshabalala (SACR) 30 09 2028
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