WeeklySA_AdminVACANCIES: Directive to provincial government to reverse unlawful appointments after recruitment found to have been compromised by nepotism…
By Sy Makaringe
Limpopo Department of Social Development has put on ice two senior officials in the wake of a Public Protector’s damning report into a massive “jobs-for-pals” scandal at two state-run youth centres in the province.
In her 63-page report following a protracted three-year investigation, Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka found that the provincial department unlawfully appointed 27 candidates into positions at its two youth centres in Polokwane and Mavambe, outside Malamulele, for which they were not qualified.
This came after the department advertised 107 vacancies following the demise four years ago of controversial facilities company BOSASA, which had a multimillion-rand tender to provide social and other services at the two youth centres.
In her remedial action, Gcaleka recommended that Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha take “appropriate steps” against the department’s head, Julius Mahopo, for not exercising proper oversight on the recruitment process.
She also directed the very same Mahopo to take appropriate action against his deputy director of human resources, Maleana John Sekgobela, as well as members of the short-listing and interviewing panels, named in the report as EM Monyamane, NG Shikwambani, DL Khwinana, MS Mothapo (Mr), MS Mothapo (Ms) and PW Cholo.
Earlier this week Mahopo was reported to have submitted his resignation, while Sekgobela was said to have been suspended.
Mahopo fell on his sword only days after signing a two-page letter calling on the unlawfully appointed employees – who are now three years into their jobs – to submit a resignation notice by February 28.
“In failure (sic), the Department shall approach the Labour Court on urgent basis (sic) to declare your appointment null and void,” Mahopo wrote.
But provincial government spokesman Ndavhe Ramakuela denied that Mahopo had resigned, saying “a resignation is not a resignation until it has been accepted”. He said Mahopo was suspended on February 20 by Mathabatha pending a disciplinary hearing to answer to the charge emanating from Gcaleka’s report.
Joshua Kwapa, a spokesperson for Social Development MEC Nandi Ndalani, also denied Sekgobela had been suspended, saying only that “he has been given different responsibilities”.
One of the irregularly appointed employees, who refused to be named “for now”, said he would not tender his resignation.
“I did nothing wrong. I did not appoint myself and was never involved in any foul play. I applied for multiple positions listed in the advert to improve my chances of employment. As it happened, I got appointed into one of the positions I had applied for and for which I produced relevant qualifications,” the employee said.
He said it would be interesting to see how the Labour Court could rule against the employees as they did not have the powers to appoint themselves.
Eunice Makaringe, who blew the whistle on the flawed recruitment process after her application was unjustly rejected despite her qualifications and experience, said it would not have come to this had the officials and then Social Development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale listened to her.
“The then MEC told me I had no right to approach her because she and I were not on the same pay grade. Mahopo himself told me in my face that my degree meant nothing to him. Now, because of their reckless actions and arrogance, many lives are going to be ruined,” she said.
