The Times *Nyanda in bid to sniff out fired DG's allies* /Department targets four officials/ *Chandré Prince, The Times, Johannesburg, 20 October 2010*Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda has been accused of leading a witch hunt to remove officials in his department aligned with axed director-general Mamodupi Mohlala.
The extent of Nyanda's alleged campaign to round up dissenters - on the pretext of safeguarding the integrity of the controversial department - was revealed to The Times this week.
Insiders say it includes, but is not limited to:
* Four officials being threatened with a lie detector test for
allegedly criticising Nyanda's axing of Mohlala on a radio talk
show; and
* The termination of the contract of the department's chief
operating officer, Makhubalo Ndaba, more than a year before it was
due to end, because he was allegedly aligned to Mohlala.
* The four officials in Mohlala's department last week received
letters informing them that the department was considering
disciplinary action against them.
The department, reportedly on the instruction of acting director-general
Harold Wesso, want the four to undergo lie-detector tests and voice
analysis, claiming they participated in a 702 debate about Mohala's
axing on July 23.
Ndaba - who previously worked with Mohlala at the Pension Fund Adjudicator and was appointed by her as the chief operations officer - had his contract terminated a month after her departure.
Ndaba, an advocate who has worked, for among others, the Department of Correctional Services, was appointed earlier this year - reportedly without the approval of cabinet or Nyanda.
Responding to a detailed list of questions submitted by The Times yesterday, the department said at first that Wesso was in Mexico and that it was awaiting his response.
Later, however, Pearl Seopela, on behalf Nyanda, said: "Unfortunately the department is not at liberty to discuss internal security measures."
The Sunday Independent reported this week that a case of fraud and corruption was opened following complaints lodged by Mohlala at the Brooklyn police station on July 22 - a day before she was fired. The case was transferred to the Commercial Crimes Unit and is being investigated.
In a letter to the auditor-general at the time, Mohlala said: "Over a couple of months I have initiated several forensic audits, this has been as a result of whistle-blowers in the department who have alerted my office about the historical financial transgressions that have allegedly been committed."
Ndaba would say only that his lawyers were currently in discussion with the department.
However, insiders believe his axing in August, about five months into his two-year contract, was a result of his affiliation with Mohlala.
The four officials who received letters last week refused to comment on the matter yesterday, fearing victimisation, but The Times has learnt that senior officials believe it is Nyanda's way of ridding the department of officials loyal to Mohlala.
"People are too scared to ask questions around this matter and the four officials are nervous. One cannot work in an environment where you are not allowed to ask questions critical of management or voice your opinion and concerns regarding issue in your work environment," said a senior department official.
Two officials who have knowledge of the letters, said the department believed the four employees were listeners who called in during 702's Talk at Nine debate in July, attacking Nyanda and the department for its treatment of Mohlala.
Nyanda fired Mohlala in July, citing an irretrievable breakdown in their relationship.
Mohlala and Nyanda's former spokesman, Tiyani Rikhotso, were participants in the radio debate.
"What happened to freedom of speech and expression? Are government officials supposed to operate as puppets who just accept propaganda?" asked another official.
The officials were further asked to provide the department with written reasons should they object to being submitted to lie-detector tests.
The current situation, say the officials, has created an atmosphere of distrust.
"We are in the business of communications, but we are not allowed to freely voice our concerns. Are we supposed to turn a blind eye to things?" asked one.
*New job for Mamodupi Mohlala*After more than two months of uncertainty following her axing, Mohlala was yesterday appointed head of the new National Consumer Commission.
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies announced that he consulted Parliament's portfolio committee on trade and industry regarding the appointment, as required by law, and would approach Cabinet to finalise the process.
Davies's spokesman, Sidwell Medupe, said Mohlala's new job would see her steer the commission through a process of developing codes of fair consumer practice, as required by the new Consumer Protection Act.
Medupe denied that the position was created after Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi failed to find her a suitable job following her axing - in accordance with an out-of-court settlement.
An elated Mohlala - who learnt of her new job when contacted for comment yesterday, said she was looking forward to a "brighter future".
"I'm very happy. It's excellent news. The new position will present me with the kind of challenges that will ensure that I rise to the occasion," Mohlala said.
Baloyi presented the proposal to Mohala about three weeks ago and it will only be finalised once approved by Cabinet.
Though he welcomed the appointment of a consumer commission, Democratic Alliance MP Tim Harris said the DA hoped Davies had not been "strong-armed" into hiring Mohlala.
"At best, Ms Mohlala is a controversial manager, but if Minister Nyanda is to be believed, at worst she has left the Communications Department in disarray," said Harris.
"The DA hopes Minister Davies took time to discuss the appointment with his Cabinet colleagues and carefully considered her appropriateness for a position that is critically important for the protection of South African consumers."
*From: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article716608.ece/Nyanda-in-bid-to-sniff-out-fired-DGs-allies*
** ** -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
<<image/jpeg>>
