Transport boss put on ice

Premier Masualle moves after department’s ‘embarrassing failures’

Premier Phumulo Masualle appointed Jongile Mhlomi as acting head of the department of transport on Friday after placing incumbent Irene Mpolweni under precautionary suspension with immediate effect.

Office of the premier spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga said Mpolweni’s suspension was related to the downgrading of Mthatha Airport last month.

This had embarrassed the provincial government.

However, Mbananga said the action “does, in no [way], mean the HoD has done anything wrong.

“It is meant to allow space for the investigators of events leading to the downgrading of the airport to be able to do their investigation without any hindrance.”

The Daily Dispatch has seen the letter Masualle sent to transport MEC Weziwe Tikana on Friday, in which he cited the “embarrassing failures” of the transport department as one reason for the suspension.

Tikana’s spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, confirmed the MEC received the letter on Friday.

Mpolweni, in responses to questions sent to her via text message, said said: “I am not aware. [I’m] in a meeting, can’t talk.”

In his letter, Masualle also raised concerns about “the deteriorating working relations between Tikana and Mpolweni”.

Masualle wrote: “After careful consideration of the deteriorating work[ing] relations between yourself and the head of department, as well as the embarrassing failures that have beset the department of transport, I have put the HoD of Transport on precautionary suspension.”

Tensions between the two came out in the open on Monday after Tikana overruled Mpolweni’s decision to suspend four senior managers last month.

Mpolweni announced her decision to suspend deputy director-general Lomex Sisilana three weeks ago.

The Dispatch reported last week that Sisilana was suspended in relation to the Mthatha Airport saga.

This was after the SA Civil Aviation Authority downgraded the facility to a category 3, stating that it was concerned about several shortcomings in the airport’s rescue and firefighting services, as well as its aerodrome emergency management system.

Mpolweni also suspended three other senior managers – chief director of transport operations Andrie de Vries, director for aviation Noel Godwin and director of ICT Feziwe Nombutuma.

Tikana had not signed off on the decision to suspend the officials.