Tribalism, hate speech claims surface in Lim depts

Claims of tribalism relating to the seemingly haphazard re-arrangement of senior managers in the top echelons of different government departments have surfaced and as a result a complaint of alleged hate speech was lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in Limpopo against Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Thandi Moraka.
It was brought to Polokwane Obser­ver’s attention that the reported irregular and unfair transfer and re-arrangement of a host of Directors and Chief Directors in the Departments of Sport, Arts and Culture as well as Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure were causing rumblings in the provincial government jungle. As far as could be determined the decisions are affecting a reported 14 senior managers in the respective departments, of which some are challenged at highest administrative level. It was learnt that while different routes of recourse were being embarked on the matter was escalated via correspondence to the Premier’s Office on Monday. According to information the two scenarios have seemingly necessitated the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) at provincial and regional level to step in after having been alerted on it last week.
Sources within provincial government departments alleged that the period before elections and insecurity about possible inclusion in the Provincial Cabinet thereafter left political heads no other choice than correctly placing their pawns within the departments to secure a hold for some time.
“The decision defies logic,” responded a source in reaction. In addition concern was simultaneously raised about nine individuals acting in positions of Head of Department, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Directors of Cultural Affairs and Corporate Services as well as Directors of Library and Archive Services, Museums and Heritage, Communications, Supply Chain Management and Human Resources in the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, which apparently entailed more than half of senior management jobs in the department not being permanently filled.
Documentation reveals the names of four Directors in the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture – that of Communications, Library and Archive Services, Museums and Heritage as well as Corporate Services – affected by the transfers claimed to be irregular, unfair, done without prior consultation and in instances to non-existent posts.
In a separate document forwarded to Polokwane Observer the names of ten Chief Directors and Directors in the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure are collectively listed for placement as from 1 March this year. In the document, of which the date is not evident and signed by the Director of MEC Support in the department, staff members are being informed about MEC Nandi Ndalane’s decision to re-arrange the placement of ten Senior Management Services members, consisting of three women and seven men, and the new responsibilities they have been tasked with. A source pointed out the fact that legislation dictated that such a letter could only be signed by the MEC.
Further documentation brought to Polo­kwane Observer’s attention speaks of four Directors in the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture reportedly affected by a decision by MEC Thandi Moraka communicated on 4 March this year to have the senior managers transferred and replaced with immediate effect as from 10 March, which was a calendar Sunday.
A source raised the issue that the replacements for the directors whose jobs were at stake have already started in the positions last Wednesday, and that the fourth director didn’t oppose the decision to have him transferred.
According to information the three directors apparently opposing their transfers have been transferred to locations in the Capricorn, Vhembe and Sekhukhune Districts. The source stressed that there was no prior consultation on the transfers and no valid reason for such a decision to have been taken in that regard either.
According to him transfers shouldn’t be punitive or harm employees. “An MEC’s power shouldn’t be inhuman,” he added.
It was learnt that one of the four affected directors in the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Thagalu Thovhakale who is the Director for Library and Archive Services has laid a complaint of alleged hate speech with the SAHRC in Limpopo against Moraka on 4 March. Thovhakale has reportedly been transferred to the position of Vhembe District Head with effect 10 March. In an attachment to the SAHRC complaint form he expressed dismay at the realisation of being taken to the Vhembe District merely because he is of Venda origin, regardless of the fact that he is permanently residing in Polokwane.
When approached Thovhakale confirmed the transfer but refused to go into details and referred Polokwane Observer to the department for comment, except to say that the matter has gravely affected him and his family.
Yesterday (Wednesday) morning Nehawu Provincial Secretary Jacob Adams said he had raised the matter of three transfers within the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure with the Premier’s Office on Monday and after communication early morning was awaiting feedback from the Director-General on a meeting likely to happen as soon as next week for it to be addressed. He indicated that they only had knowledge of three directors in the department – one in Capricorn, one in Vheme and one on the Expanded Public Works Programme – being affected. Adams further added that he had been informed of the union’s Capricorn regional leadership having met with the MEC of Sport, Arts and Culture mid-last week to discuss the issue of the transfer of the four directors and that an appointment was scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) for discussions to resume. In the meantime the status quo remained and the directors were to stay in their positions until the matter got resolved, he mentioned.
In comment obtained from Premier’s spokesperson Kenny Mathivha he said there was no irregular or unfair moving of senior managers in provincial government departments because no one was losing their jobs in the process. The Premier, the DG and Nehawu occasionally communicated as Nehawu in the province was part of the Office of the Premier’s reconfiguring structure and had to be informed of any possible moves occurring, he concluded.
The complaint lodged with the SAHRC in Limpopo was confirmed by the Provincial Manager, Victor Mavhidula, who said he could not elaborate on the details of the complainant or the matter.
An attempt to approach Moraka for comment on the complaint against her was unsuccessful and her phone did not leave the option for a voice message.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
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