Serious irregularities uncovered in Minister Tolashe's chief of staff appointment by PSC
Public Service Commission Somadoda Fikeni says their investigation has found multiple violations in the irregular appointment of Social Development Minister Sisi Tolashe's former private secretary Lesedi Mabiletja.
Image: Phando Jikelo / RSA Parliament
The Public Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday said its investigation into the appointment of Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s former private secretary and acting chief of staff Leside Mabiletja violated multiple values and principles of the public administration.
Briefing the social development committee, PSC chairperson Somadoda Fikeni said they had conducted their own accord investigation into Mabiletja’s appointment following media reports.
“We often as PSC look at the constitution, values and principles, and what public administration ought to do. In this case, I am afraid to say the investigation revealed multiple violations,” Fikeni said.
MPs heard that the implicated officials did not cooperate with PSC during the investigation.
“I wish the minister good luck in hoping that the same officials will give full response and cooperation, more so some have left the department,” said Fikeni referring to Tolashe who asked for extension until next week to get replies from the officials before providing a response to the PSC preliminary report.
“We have thoroughly interviewed the affected officials. They were given the opportunity to respond. We invoked technical support to verify the details, which I doubt the department will have that capacity as some of the officials have the potential of misleading her,” he said.
Fikeni also said the investigation found that many role players have coordinated in embellishment of facts, including CVs,and misstatements of facts.
PSC investigator Hendrieka Sithole said they found that Mabiletja was irregularly appointed as Tolashe’s private and appointment secretary in terms of qualifications and experience.
Sithole also said the position required an appropriate degree and middle management or senior management experience but Mabiletja had a national diploma in Information Technology and no experience.
She said Mabiletja had committed fraud when she stated on her CV that she possessed five years experience and had worked in the office of late minister Hlengiwe Mkhize.
Mabiletja had also misrepresented in her CV that she was a sales and marketing assistant for four months when in fact she had been brand ambassador for Rosebank College in Polokwane.
Sithole added that the PSC had been provided with three CVs of Mabiletja and one was submitted by her uncle and Tolashe’s special advisor Ngwanko Kgatla.
She said the CV submitted by Kgatla contained a misrepresentation of facts, and it turned out that she had not worked with former chief of staff Zanele Simons, who was named as her reference.
Sithole added that Mabiletja was also irregularly appointed as acting chief of staff as the post required extensive experience at senior management level.
“Her experience was limited compared to the information on her CV that indicated she had extensive experience in this high profile post.”
Sithole said the PSC has directed Tolashe to facilitate disciplinary action against implicated human resources officials, including the former director-general Peter Netshipale.
She added that Kgatla should be subjected to a disciplinary action for incorrectly modifying Mabiletja’s CV to reflect she had years of experience.
Tolashe said they had received the provisional report on March 24 regarding Mabiletja’s irregular appointment and had asked to be given until May 14 to submit their response after providing the implicated officials the right to reply.
She said the disciplinary process will commence on receipt of the final PSC.
“The process of investigation was dealt with by PSC. Until we get that report we will say what then do we do, so that we deal with this matter and remove the perception that there are elements of corruption or anything of that kin. We are still committed to do that,” said Tolashe.
ANC MP Paulina Makgato said the PSC should be given time to conclude its work.
“Maybe in the final report they will come with something,” Makgato said.
Patriotic Alliance MP Sheila Mary Peters said Mabiletja should be criminally charged for committing fraud.
“Has the department quantified how much it cost the taxpayers,” Peter probed about Mabiletja’s irregular appointment.
DA MP Nazley Sharif wanted to know if Kgatla would be disciplined and the steps to be taken to recover the monies paid to Mabiletja.
She also wanted to know if Tolashe and her deputy Ganif Hendricks were not implicated during the investigation.
“None of them is mentioned. Can you explain if the PSC interviewed the minister and her deputy?” said Sharif.
Responding to questions, Fikeni said Tolashe was expected to give a progress report on the directions PSC will give the department to implement consequence management within 60 days.
“Where there is fraud or misleading with information, there ought to be consequences. That is the position,” he said.
The MPs heard that there was a specific recommendation that if there was irregular appointment, the money paid in salaries needs to be recovered.