Rural reform mutiny against HOD
ABOUT 100 provincial rural development and agrarian reform government employees from all districts in the province held a protest at their head office in Bhisho yesterday.
Three unions – the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), the Public Servants’ Association (PSA) and South African State and Allied Workers’ Union (Sasawu) – joined the action.
Nehawu leader Looks Matoto told the Dispatch the staff were scared of the department’s HOD, Lumkile Ngada.
“Ngada is purging those of us who want him investigated over allegations of nepotism and fraud,” said Matoto at the Dukumbana building, where the department’s head office is located.
However, last night MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the matter was receiving his attention. He said a labour and management task team was set-up to look at the issues raised by the employee representatives.
He said everything would be back to normal at work today.
“We've set up a labour task team that will work closer with the management to look into this matter. In the meantime, I will draft terms of reference for investigation of these allegations and to see if this will be an enquiry or will it be a full-blown investigation,” said Mlibo.
Early on Monday the workers, who travelled from districts like Joe Gqabi, Alfred Nzo, Amathole and Sarah Baartman, occupied the ninth floor of the building, demanding a meeting with Ngada himself.
The workers say the department has a labour management forum, which is supposed to be chaired by Ngada, but he has shown no interest in doing so. Among the issues raised are:
● Wrongful suspensions;
● Allegations of sexual harassment against senior staff members;
● Unfair employment of relatives;
● Corruption, including theft of animals from departmental projects; and
● Outstanding overtime and performance bonuses.
“As we are holding this meeting here, department officials are busy short-listing staff. We are complaining about people employed in posts they don’t deserve because of lack of qualifications, yet they are ignoring us,” said Matoto.
The unions say 90 to 95% of posts are filled by outsiders despite there being capable people in the department. Malusi Gotshana of Sasawu said people were being overlooked despite their experience.
Qoboshiyane said the allegations were serious. “Management will sit and look at the issues highlighted by the unions, which include appointments, disciplinary (action), fraud and corruption allegations and others.
“Another issue that will be looked at is the appointments of staff from levels one right to 12,” he said.
He emphasised that within seven days he would have a clear idea as to whether an investigation was required, or if matters should be taken to the Public Service Commission for an inquiry.
On the question of Ngada, Mlibo said he would brief premier Phumulo Masualle. “That issue we will deal with but I have to brief the premier about these allegations that are being levelled by the unions.” —