Mogajane to be disciplined over traffic offence

President Cyril Ramaphosa has moved ahead with the disciplinary process against the Treasury’s director-general Dondo Mogajane for failing to disclose his criminal record when applying for the job.

Ramaphosa initiated remedial action in line with the report of the public protector on Mogajane’s appointment‚ the presidency said on Monday.

Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane issued a report in December on improper conduct regarding Mogajane’s application for the position and his subsequent appointment.

She found that Mogajane had failed to disclose a criminal record on the Z83 application form he completed and that this failure amounted to improper conduct. She recommended that Ramaphosa take appropriate action against Mogajane within 30 days for “blatantly and dishonestly” making false representation of material facts in his Z83 form. Mogajane previously said he was unaware he had a criminal record for having paid an admission-of-guilt fine in 2011 for contravening the Road Traffic Act, for reckless or negligent driving. The Public Service Act directs that the president is responsible for disciplinary steps and the implementation of relevant sanctions against a head of department. But another section of the act enables the country’s leader to delegate that responsibility to any minister.

“Consequently‚ President Ramaphosa has informed the public protector that he has requested the minister for public service & administration‚ Ayanda Dlodlo‚ to study the report on Mogajane and advise on the steps the department will take to address the issues raised by the public protector. The president has also in terms of the act delegated to the minister of higher education & training‚ Naledi Pandor‚ the power to initiate disciplinary action against Mogajane‚” said the presidency.