AUDIO | Drama as Mbalula’s alleged bid to seize control of Supply Chain Management continues

Staff Reporter

Bloemfontein – The alleged attempt by Free State MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, to take control of the department’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) unit has raised fresh concerns about governance and adherence to administrative processes.

The latest development follows the transfer of Justice Molisana, Director: Supply Chain Management, to the Asset Management unit, despite reports that previous requests for the transfer had been rejected.

Sources within the department’s Human Resources division allege that the transfer was irregular and was not supported by the acting Head of Department, Dr Masego Tshabalala.

“This is just a mess. Dr Masego, who is the accounting officer and is responsible for administration, knows nothing about this,” a source alleged.

The source further claimed that the department’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) was unhappy after allegedly being instructed to communicate the transfer to Molisana.

“She is livid. By communicating the transfer, it appeared as though she was exercising powers she does not have, because only the Head of Department is legally empowered to authorise such decisions. When the MEC announced that she would now be in charge of Supply Chain Management, that was also incorrect. It effectively meant the CFO was acting as both Head of Department and Director: Supply Chain Management,” the source alleged.

In an audio recording heard by this publication, Mbalula is heard telling staff that Molisana “knows what to do” if he is unhappy with the decision.

Listen to the audio below.

Department spokesperson Hilary Mophethe said Dr Tshabalala remains responsible for the overall administration and financial management of the department by she was nowhere near this transfer.

The unfolding developments have intensified concerns within the department, with some officials drawing comparisons to previous governance challenges that affected the now-defunct Infrastructure Delivery and Asset Management Committee (IDAC).

This is a developing story.

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