AERIAL ASSAULT
October 29, 2010 from former minister of labour Membathisi Mdladlana and had first sight of it when the commission gave it to him this year and that he was never dismissed from the department of labour but suspended until his transfer to GCIS.
Manyi maintained there was nothing false in what he said, that his lawyers would have received Mdladlana’s letter, which they would have used in the advice and inputs they gave when a letter was drafted to the former minister of public service and administration Richard Baloyi.
Manyi said according to the Public Service Act, a minister did not have the authority to dismiss a head of department.
He said evidence that he remained at the employ of the department of labour until he was transferred to GCIS was that he received a salary from the department of labour in December, 2010 and January, 2011. He was transferred to GCIS in February, 2011.
He accused Hofmeyr of being “hellbent” on “weaponizing” documents before the commission, which include letters from his lawyers to Baloyi and former minister of labour Mildred Oliphant. He questioned why the commission was “busy splitting hairs on a letter that is unlawful”.
Manyi also accused Hofmeyr of asking “loaded” and “leading” questions with the intent of making “a nefarious point”.
Zondo asked the witness to “wait for the nefarious point” and then deal with it.
Hofmeyr dealt with section 13 of the Public Service Act which states an “executive authority” – a minister – has the authority to not confirm a probationary appointment.
However, Manyi said “employee”
in the section of the Act excludes heads of department, which Hofmeyr disputed.
Zondo requested the focus of leading Manyi’s evidence should “throw light” on the transfer of former GCIS director-general Themba Maseko, transferred to the department of public service and administration and replaced by Manyi for allegedly refusing to do the bidding of the Guptas.
Manyi told the commission that during his time in the presidency, former president Jacob Zuma had been very friendly, got along with a number of people and maintained numerous “good relationships”.
In 2017, Manyi’s media company took over the Guptas’ The New Age and television station ANN7. The two media outlets are now defunct.
Yesterday, Manyi told the commission that prior to his transfer, he had no relationship with the Guptas: “I knew about them but a relationship at that point, no.”
Hofmeyr asks loaded questions to make nefarious point