MEC’s staffing plans hit a snag

THE newly sworn-in rural development and agrarian reform MEC is at loggerheads with his head of department over core staff appointments.

HoD Lumkile Ngada is unhappy over Xolile Nqatha’s alleged attempt to raise the salary level of his chief of staff Andile Fani from level 13 to 14. Nqatha also gave Fani – who was a BCM municipal manager – the extra responsibility of spokesperson.

Level 13 is a director position with a minimum notch of just over R800 000 annually to a maximum of just over R1-million.

Level 14 is a chief director post with a minimum of R1-million and a maximum of R1.2-million.

The Daily Dispatch was reliably informed that Ngada delayed the proposal to bump up Fani’s salary level.

In a strongly worded letter to Ngada dated June 4, Nqatha requests him to prepare a submission asking for Minister of Public Service and Administration Ayanda Dlodlo to approve Fani’s salary level raise.

“I first want to put on record my displeasure on how the appointment of the core staff of this office has been handled.

“This displeasure emanates from the fact that to date my staff do not have appointment letters,” part of the letter reads.

Nqatha indicates that he further intends to deviate from the Public Service Regulation of 2016 on Fani’s salary and level.

“You can prepare an interim contract for Mr Fani on the level you are proposing.

“Such contract will be the subject of change once I receive approval from the minister,” the letter reads.

Nqatha also criticised Ngada for delegating the responsibilities of the appointment of his core staff to the deputy-director general for administration.

The Public Service Regulation of 2016 stipulates that should executive authorities (political principals) intend grading a transversal job, then such job evaluation must be done with the concurrence of the minister.

“Jobs that have been graded centrally by the minister cannot be regraded by an executive authority,” the regulation reads.

Contacted for comment Nqatha questioned how the internal communication was leaked, saying that it was unprofessional for any official to leak departmental communication.

“These are internal matters. There is nothing wrong with wanting urgency to capacitate my office,” Nqatha said.

He said that previously provisions allowed for the MEC to affect the deviation and changes, but to concur with the current provisions he had to ask his administrators to prepare a submission to the minister.

Asked if the submission had been done, he said he was still waiting for it from the officials.

Ngada referred all queries to Fani.