Staff reporter
Bloemfontein — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Free State Department of Human Settlements though not entirely unexpected a director appointed barely a month ago has now been elevated to the position of acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Edward Kotjomela, formerly a Deputy Director at the Provincial Treasury, joined the Department of Human Settlements as a Director on 1 December. Within days of his appointment, Kotjomela was designated acting CFO following the transfer of former CFO Nosipho Molikoe to the Department of Social Development.
According to insiders, Molikoe’s troubles allegedly began after she refused to sign off on submissions linked to unlawful salary adjustments.
Sources claim that the same submissions Molikoe declined to approve are now set to be processed under Kotjomela’s watch.
This development mirrors a pattern previously observed during the tenure of Teboho Mokoena at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).
At DARD, Mokoena reportedly withheld delegated powers from the then Head of Department, Dr Takisi Masiteng.
What followed, according to sources familiar with the matter, was administrative turmoil.
The department allegedly appointed Mbuyiseni Khapa, a parallel Director, and Jankie Jack, a Deputy Director within Legal Services, during which approximately R1.8 million reportedly went missing and the Hawks investigations are at advance stage.
Furthermore, five individuals were appointed on three-year contracts and later converted to five-year terms without concurrence from Minister as stipulated.
- Mr ZP Noveld,
- Mr KE Polokoane,
- Mr MK Matlakala,
- Mr MC Maina
- Mr AA Mcwele
Notably, when Mokoena was later redeployed to the Department of Human Settlements and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the same five individuals were seconded to COGTA.
Meaning they are still contracted and employed by DARD.
The latest appointment has reignited concerns over governance, financial controls, and recurring patterns in senior management decisions within key Free State departments.
In other related news, Tshepiso Motsima, a newly appointed Chief Director has hurled insults at Sipho Mabena, Citizen’s reporter after sending questions about Nthaoteng Maoke, former Executive Mayor of Setsoto Local Municipality.
The voicenote in possession of this publication contains unprintable insults and it’s a story for another day for former St Luke’s pupil.
Teboho Mokoena, MEC for Human Settlements and COGTA didn’t respond to our questions.
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