Mabuyane suspends Cogta head

Poor performance and defying MEC Nqatha cited as reasons

Eastern Cape co-operative governance & traditional affairs HoD Gabisile Gumbi-Masilela has been suspended.

Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha wrote to premier Oscar Mabuyane raising his unhappiness with what he said was the department’s poor performance and Gumbi-Masilela’s alleged defiance in not implementing his instructions.

Only a premier can discipline an accounting officer.

Nqatha confirmed writing to Mabuyane but would not divulge details.

“All I can confirm now is that I have not been happy about the performance of the department, particularly the performance of the accounting officer, for some time,” Nqatha said.

“I then informed the premier, who, after he considered all the things I referred to him, took a decision to place the HoD on precautionary suspension, a decision I fully support.”

Mabuyane’s spokesperson, Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, declined to comment. “This is an internal matter. He will comment at the right time.”

Gumbi-Masilela also confirmed her suspension.

“All I can say now is that this was as a result of a breakdown between myself and the MEC. I just don’t know how to describe such a breakdown,” she said, but would not be drawn to comment further.

In February, Mabuyane told HoDs and CEOs of state-owned entities that he had no time to entertain a breakdown in relations between an MEC and accounting officer, saying if HoDs implemented decisions, there would be no breakdown.

The Dispatch has seen a letter Nqatha wrote to the department’s executive management recently informing them of Gumbi-Masilela’s suspension.

Nqatha confirmed writing it. “Yes, I wrote to other executive managers telling them about the suspension after they had been aware that I have not been happy about the accounting officer’s conduct,” he said.

“I just can’t dwell much now on such a conduct because those are disciplinary committee issues. I would like to keep it that way. It’s a matter between an employer and employee and due process has to follow its course.”

In the leaked letter to Cogta administration bosses, Nqatha says: “You will recall that I have several times raised my unhappiness about the performance of the department, inclusive of non-implementation of my instructions.

“I have since followed a due process to deal with that, which resulted in the HoD’s precautionary suspension.”

Nqatha informed the administrators that while he was waiting for Mabuyane to second someone to act in GumbiMasilela’s position, one of the department’s two deputy director-generals, Nomphelo “Phashy” Roboji, would act as the HoD.

Roboji acted as HoD in 2016, when former head Nombulelo “Bea” Hackula was placed on suspension by then MEC Fikile Xasa.

Her appointment by Xasa, however, raised eyebrows at the time, with Xasa accused of overstepping his authority by appointing an acting HoD as the premier is the only person who has that power.

Nehawu chair at the department Lennox Maho refused to comment on Gumbi-Masilela’s suspension, saying the union had not been briefed about it. He said they were unaware of the circumstances that led to her suspension.

Meanwhile, the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture welcomed Sibongile Mpofu as the new HoD at the beginning of the month.

She replaces Mzolisi Matutu, who retired in January.