Disgraced ex-secretary Mgidlana ‘back in parliament’
Legislature denies appointment, but insiders insist Mgidlana has the job
● Former secretary to parliament Gengezi Mgidlana, who was fired in 2019 for financial misconduct and other violations, is said to have scored a contract to conduct research for the legislature.
The Sunday Times established this week that a company he owns, Afrocentric Markets, may have won a contract to benchmark the legal and policy framework regulating relations between national, provincial and local spheres of administration.
Parliamentary insiders said the contract had already been awarded to Afrocentric Markets, though parliament’s official spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said on Friday this was not so.
“No appointment has been made,” he said. Mothapo did not respond to questions about the tender process and the value of the contract.
However, the Sunday Times has seen an
e-mail Mgidlana wrote to his successor, Xolile George, informing him that his company had been appointed to do the work.
“As part of conducting this exercise Afrocentric Markets Consultancy will require the support, co-operation and participation of your institution, which is part of the legislative sector, to conduct and conclude this exercise as contemplated by the terms of the assignment,” said the e-mail, dated August 22.
“We need information that is crucial to us making an assessment of how your institution is set up to deal with co-operative government, the mechanisms that are in place and/or any other information that you may consider relevant.”
Mgidlana said the research would include conducting interviews with some parliamentary staff.
“We will send you communication to this effect and liaise with you and your institution to get the relevant sample. We look forward to the co-operation of your institution,” he wrote.
Parliament’s legislative sector support (LSS) unit, in a letter dated July 15, wrote to the nine provincial legislatures to ask them to co-operate with Mgidlana’s firm.
The LSS, which is funded by the EU, provides administrative support for the provincial legislatures, the Speakers’ Forum of SA and other related structures. It also helps with liaison between the national parliament and the provincial legislatures.
Mgidlana did not respond to questions sent via e-mail and a text message. He was fired as secretary — effectively parliament’s CEO — three years ago after a drawn-out disciplinary process.
He was found guilty of serious misconduct in having accepted a R71,000 “ex gratia” payment for himself. Other charges related to travelling with his spouse at parliament’s expense, abusing his parliamentary credit card, the irregular appointment of a chief information officer and failing to stop parliament’s protection service unit from using blue lights and sirens when driving him around.
The National Education, Health & Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), which had an acrimonious relationship with Mgidlana during his tenure, said that despite Mothapo’s denial, the contract had been awarded to his company.
“We regard the appointment of Mgidlana’s company by the LSS as an extreme insult and gross disrespect not only to the national parliament but the entire legislative sector,” said Sthembiso Tembe, chair of the Nehawu branch in parliament.
“It seeks to embarrass and make a mockery of parliament, which dismissed Mgidlana for various serious transgressions, including abuse of resources, mismanagement, maladministration, good governance failures and abuse of power,” he said.
“Those responsible for appointing Mgidlana as a service provider should be held personally liable for any action that might arise following this decision.”
The Sunday Times has yet to establish the value of the contract.
Afrocentric Markets Consultancy will require the support, co-operation and participation of your institution ... to conduct and conclude this exercise as contemplated by the terms of the assignment
Gengezi Mgidlana