Union calls for MEC to suspend Gxilishe

Union members in Bhisho want economic affairs MEC Oscar Mabuyane to put his head of department Bongani Gxilishe on precautionary suspension.

National Education Health and Allied Workers Union provincial secretary Micky Jaceni cited souring of relations between workers and Gxilishe as the main reason for making the demand.

“As things stand, we have come to notice that the relations between our members and the HoD have now broken down because of his bullying tactics and attitude towards the union,” said Jaceni.

At the centre of the breakdown in communication lines between the two key stakeholders is the adoption of a new organogram, and the department’s decision to “rely on consultants while it has fully functioning in-house systems,” according to Nehawu.

Gxilishe denied allegations he unilaterally changed the organogram, saying the unfortunate part was that the current leaders were not in office when discussions about changing the structure took place.

“The department of public services & administration would not have approved this new organogram if we had not provided proof that indeed stakeholders were consulted,” said Gxilishe.

Another thorny issue is the crisis of office space for economic affairs workers. This follows a report that the department’s King William’s Town offices saw gas fumes leaking, resulting in the hospitalisation of some workers.

But Gxilishe said these were all side issues, saying the relations between his office and the union became strained the day workers lost a case which involved 29 workers receiving irregular salary increases.

“There is no way that officials can be allowed to move to a higher notch without having applied for that job, and followed due process,” said Gxilishe.