Unreliable, evasive and incredible” witness appointed Chief Director at Social Development

Staff Reporter

Bloemfontein – The Free State Department of Social Development has appointed Freedy Finger as Chief Director: Corporate Services, with effect from 1 January 2026.

The appointment was announced by MEC for Social Development, Mathabo Leeto, in a Facebook post that has since been deleted.

Finger previously served as Director: Human Resources in the department. Announcing the appointment, Leeto said:

“It gives me great pleasure that the commitment I made when I assumed this office, to fill all senior management vacant budgeted posts, is being realised. I have no doubt they will excel in these roles, as they have performed exceptionally well.”

However, the announcement does not address a number of serious concerns linked to Finger’s tenure in the department.

According to available records and rulings:

•Finger allegedly evaded a disciplinary hearing after being implicated in an internal report. The matter involved irregular expenditure of overtime and it led to the unlawful suspension of Thabo Mahlaba, which reportedly cost the department thousands of rands.

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•In the Mabitle v/s Mance case, Bargaining Council Commissioner Anna-Marie Fourie described Finger as an “evasive, unreliable and incredible” witness.

•A former employee, Lebogang Saila, reportedly returned to work after resigning, without the post being advertised.

•The department allegedly employed Isaac Ngozo in a position despite a Bargaining Council ruling on the matter.

•Mathatisi Tsotetsi, the wife of Daniel Tsotetsi, Director: Legal Services, was allegedly appointed first as his driver (Dan Tsotetsi) and later as a social worker.

•An employee holding only a Grade 12 qualification was reportedly transferred to the Department of Labour and appointed as a Deputy Director.

•The department appointed Thembile Nqaleni, who claimed in his CV to be a Kovsies graduate. However, the university has no record of such qualifications.

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MEC Mathabo Leeto herself has previously been implicated in human resources-related matters, revelations that reportedly emerged after Fizikolo exposed internal irregularities.

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