Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – The decision to reshuffle the Head of Departments by Joyce Mathae, Free State Premier has been dubbed an “unfair and wrong move”.
Following a series of articles by this publication of pending reshuffling, obviously for political reasons, has been met with disgust by the technocrats.
Hardly, a week in office after being sworn in, Mathae called a meeting of senior government officials and in that meeting, she allegedly mentioned reshuffling and her being aware of others willing to take her to court.
She further said others don’t come to work on Monday and Friday in which many, said Premier was taking a swipe at Mosa Masemene, Human Settlement Head.
Surely, Masemene did not say this to the Premier but to her colleague who then ran their mouth and told the Premier.
Should Masemene ask to the court to compel Mathae to release the minutes of that meeting, it would be interesting as this was an official meeting.
With the litigation lingering over her head, Mathae, during her meeting with Dr Takisi Masiteng, Head of Department at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), allegedly repeated this.
With that in mind, last week Mathae, who has been facing scrutiny since she became Premier received a keep from Peyper Attorneys representing Masemene following her transfer to Social Development. She was given till 8 August 2024 to give reasons why she was transferring Masemene to a department that requires a social work qualification as core as per the advertisement.
A Labour expert spoke on condition for fear of victimization and this is simply unfair.
“It is unfair and wrong to move or transfer HODs simply because you have political power and wish to exercise it without course.”
Regarding failure to use tools of analyses to measure performance, she said.
“The performance assessment of these HODs would be a good place to start to determine either their level of success or failure to justify moving them.
Failure to do is just playing politics and nothing more.”
A Labour lawyer also expressed a view of these developments particularly with public interest as what politicians hide behind.
“The transfer of Senior Managers must be in the public interest and the public interest must be clear, have references, and be demonstrable. Not frivolous and thumb-sucking.”
Without the full backing of the provincial leadership who have been hamstrung by Luthuli House, the ANC in Free State has hibernated like ants in winter.
Sipho Mtakati, former Head of Community, Safety and Transport challenged his transfer and won.
One thing is certain, Mathae, will not reverse her decision and it will end up in court and she will lose, and will appeal, and ultimately, Masemene will get a golden handshake.
Reversing her decision will be seen as weak and used by her political opponents.
Masemene has a good 3 years left on her over R2 million per annum paying job.
In public interest, we have details (Identity Numbers) of Premier and husband, Lawrance Mathae who is also the speaker of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality to check what they have acquired individually and collectively sbd everything registered in their names and family members.
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