Heads will roll, Maphatsoe vows

State officials accused of sabotaging gala event for veterans

TROUBLE is looming at the Department of Defence and Military Veterans after senior officials allegedly sabotaged the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) awards gala dinner this week.

Angry Deputy Minister Kebby Maphatsoe, who also serves as the chairman of the MKMVA, said heads would roll.

Former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, SAA boss Dudu Myeni, former Eskom boss Brian Molefe, Sars commissioner Tom Moyane and “people’s poet” Mzwakhe Mbuli were to receive special awards on Thursday but did not attend.

Maphatsoe said yesterday that “very senior officials” within the department who were part of the preparatory committee, deliberately failed to organise transport for two recipients’ families. He accused the officials of pulling out of a contract with a service provider for decor, stage lighting and sound system at the last minute, which cost the department R300 000.

“Why pull out of the contract at the 11th hour? These guys formed part of the preparatory team. Everything was left in their hands,” he said.

“Heads will roll. I’m going to make sure that they roll because there are people who want to destroy the MKMVA. I’m going to take disciplinary action against the officials who were part of the plot to sabotage the awards gala dinner. I mean, they were calling recipients not to come to the event.

“I’ve got their names. I want them to account to the department. I want them to explain to me why they wanted to sabotage the event.”

Maphatsoe insisted that the event was a success, saying the association had “expected 300 people to attend but more than 350 attended”.

He also denied the event was a flop after President Jacob Zuma, ANC Women’s League president and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina did not attend.

The leaders were all due to speak at the dinner which was aimed at honouring about 30 MK members. Maphatsoe said they had all provided reasons for their absence. “But what happened is that the depart- ment wanted to sabotage the event so that it does not become a success.”

Zuma, he said, had called on Thursday afternoon, saying he was looking forward to spending the evening with them. But his doctor later ordered he rest.

“Comrade Dlamini said she was running late, she couldn’t make it. Comrade Masina told us matter of factly that if we did not start by 7pm, he would have no choice but to leave us because he had other engagements. I therefore don’t agree with the narrative that says this was a snub,” he said.