“Only DPSA, CCMA or Labour court can effect persal changes” – National Treasury

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The National Treasury (NT) has thrown the curve ball at Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) over the re-appointment of Matshediso Millicent Setai in December last year.

This after the Human Resources division at National Department of Transport (NDOT) made it clear on Monday that the Office of The Premier has never made any enquiries about Setai

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Setai was dismissed in 2010 and the arbitration ruling has never been challenged and set aside.

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Sources in Free State Provincial Government (FSPG) who spoke on condition of anonymity said Setai was still blocked on persal and administrators in the Premier’s office helped unblocking her.

According to National Treasury, re-appointment of employees dismissed for misconduct is PROHIBITED.

“PERSAL was designed to implement policies and procedures established by relevant government entities.

In this context, the Public Service Regulations of 2016 prohibits the re-appointment of employees dismissed for misconduct. Accordingly, the system is programmed to enforce the provisions outlined in Section 61 of these regulations.

Although departments can update employee records within the system, any central changes to its programming by the National Treasury require formal instruction from the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) or other authorised legal bodies, such as the CCMA or the Labour Court.”

Dr Solomon Phera, acting Director-General of Free State Provincial Government didn’t respond to our questions.

We asked him:

According to sources at Transport department, Setai had been blocked on persal, when you appointed her as acting Chief Director did you know of this?

What due diligence did you perform before you appointed her?

It was Dr Phera who hired Setai as Premier’s spokesperson on the 5 December 2024, and it was Dr Phera again who appointed Setai acting Chief Director a month later, January 2025.

Setai moved political office into administration breaching section 65 of Public Service Regulations of 2016 but more importantly, who instructed National Treasury to unblock her?

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