Controversy over Cecelia Molokwane’s 212 special leave days with pay
Polokwane Mayor John Mpe said Cecelia Molokwane's special leave was approved by council for her to attend to her duties as president of Netball South Africa.
POLOKWANE – While the Australian netball team is back home after emerging as the champions of the 2023 Netball World Cup that was hosted in Cape Town, for the president of Netball South Africa, Cecilia Molokwane, her return to the Polokwane Municipality as assistant manager of sport might not be a soft landing.
Molokwane has to face controversy raised surrounding her absence from official duties for 212 days over the period January 1, 2019 to March 4, 2023 after Mayor John Mpe confirmed in a reply to a written question from DA ward councillor Androë Botha, that council approved Molokwane’s special leave to attend to her duties as president of Netball South Africa.
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Approval was also granted for Molokwane to attend the World Cup from July 28 until August 6, on special leave.
Of the 212 days, 118 days were utilised in 2019, 18 days in 2020, 56 days in 2021, 10 days in 2022 and 10 days in 2023 and in addition to her municipal salary and benefits, Molokwane receives a monthly allowance of R23 247,21 from Netball South Africa, Botha claimed.
In April this year, an assistant manager in the municipality earned an annual salary of R590 237, excluding benefits and the annual salary adjustments that came into effect on July 1.
In reply to Botha’s questions, Mpe pointed out that the Collective Agreement on Conditions of Service for the Limpopo Division of the South African Local Government Bargaining Council makes provision for these types of leave, applicable to employees.
On perusal, it was quite clear that the agreement specifically determines that “special leave with full pay may be granted to an employee when the employee partakes in a bona fide sport activity at provincial or higher level, in which case the special leave with full pay will not exceed three working days per event and these three days may include travel time.”
According to Botha, the DA will pursue the matter to ensure that the unauthorised expenses are recovered from Molokwane and confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Auditor-General.
Molokwane joined the municipality in 2005 as a data capturer and was appointed assistant manager of sport from April 1, 2013.
On her application form, she cited her hobbies as reading, watching and playing sport in general, travelling and socialising.
She obtained a BA degree from the University of the North in 1999. According to her job description, she has to manage the development, promotion and monitor the implementation of sports and recreation programmes for the municipality.
Molokwane responded to a request for comment, saying she “has commented on the matter ad nauseam” and emphasised that her requests for leave have been processed through the correct channels within the municipality.
“Council, of which the DA forms part, entertained the matter and approved my leave. Many officials from other municipalities have been seconded to be involved in the World Cup and I fail to understand why I am now singled out,” Molokwane said and requested that further enquiries regarding the matter be directed to the municipality.
