Telecommunications department a mess, minister tells MPs

CAPE TOWN — The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services is not performing and is wracked by infighting and maladministration, Telecommunications Minister Siyabonga Cwele said yesterday.

He painted a picture of a dysfunctional institution as he sought to explain to MPs why he had asked the Public Service Commission to conduct an inquiry into the management of the department.

Mr Cwele has also given the director-general, Rosey Sekese, 72 hours — until later this week — to motivate why she should not be placed on special leave of absence while the probe is under way.

“It becomes worrying if problems are even at senior level because you have to rely on senior managers to manage these things on your behalf,” the minister said in a briefing to Parliament’s telecommunications and postal services committee.

There was a lack of cohesion and stability in the department and the minister was hoping that the commission’s inquiry would pinpoint the problems. He expected the inquiry to take two months.

Mr Cwele highlighted structural deficiencies in the department with each section operating on its own with no co-ordination and cohesion at senior management level. There was also no clear focus on outcomes.

“The department is in the mode of running programmes. If programmes do not produce outcomes it does not matter. I (staff member) have done my work.”

Committee chairwoman Mmamoloko Kubayi said it seemed officials did as they pleased. She stressed the need for consequences for undesirable behaviour.

Democratic Alliance spokeswoman on telecommunications and postal services Marian Shinn said it was “about time” the minister took action. She said a leadership vacuum left by Mr Cwele had given Ms Sekese a free hand. Ms Shinn said three deputy directorsgeneral had left the department in

The department has been in a state of upheaval for some years, but … this has been exacerbated by ongoing inquiries

five months and other senior employees had left as well.

About 80% of senior staff were last week issued with warning letters by Ms Sekese for nonperformance in the first quarter of this financial year. Ms Shinn claimed that most of them had raised concerns about the department with the minister.

“The department has been in a state of upheaval for some years, but this has been exacerbated during the past year by ongoing internal disciplinary and Special Investigating Unit inquiries,” she said.