COSATU condemns the recycling of dismissed officials in municipalities and state-owned entities
26 September 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions rejects the practice of appointing tainted officials in public entities. This pattern has become prevalent in the country’s municipalities where officials who have been dismissed after charges of misconduct at one municipality are rehired at another.
The latest is Nandipha Khanyisile Sibobi, a Chief Financial Officer who was fired by an Eastern Cape municipality in 2016 and again by the KwaZulu Natal Umgungundlovu Economic Development Agency in 2022 for gross misconduct following charges of dishonesty, fraud and corruption, only to be appointed to the same position at Kumkani Mhlontlo Municipality, Eastern Cape early this year.
Her charge sheets from her disciplinary hearings range from unlawfully tampering with recommendations of a bid evaluation committee for a tender process and documents to stealing money.
Two months ago, Morufa Moloto, the Chief Financial Officer of Madibeng Local Municipality in the North West was arrested by the Hawks in connection with her and her partner’s involvement in a corruption case related to the procurement of laptops at the municipality in 2018. Before her arrest she had been employed by the municipality despite her undesirable record from her time at Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality where she held the same position.
The culture of recycling controversial figures exposes the lack of governance at these entities; vetting procedures are ignored or deliberately bypassed. Our municipalities are fast becoming breeding ground for criminals to commit corrupt activities with impunity. The executives who authorise these appointments should also be held liable for the damaging consequences they bring about with their defiance of regulations to avoid perpetuation of this foolishness.
The Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) clearly states that accounting officers in the public sector are to manage funds responsibly with accountability. Individuals who have clearly contravened this legislation cannot be entrusted with such key roles. Normailising this pattern would not only perpetuate the jaws of corruption, it would also be a blatant failure to the working class and society at large.
COSATU applauds the whistleblowers and its Affiliate, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) for remaining undeterred in eradicating corruption in public entities. A corruption-free country can only be attained through collective effort and unwavering commitment.
Issued by Mkhawuleli Maleki, COSATU EC Provincial Secretary, 26 September 2024
