City Press reports that the Department of Women, Youth and Persons With Disabilities has found itself mired in controversy for allegedly overlooking qualified disabled candidates for a senior position.  

Instead it opted to appoint the able-bodied wife of a director in the department.  Despite protests from aggrieved candidates who claimed to have been overlooked, the minister of the department, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and the department’s director-general, Advocate Mikateko Maluleke, approved the appointment.  Apparently the preferred candidate, Phuti Mabelebele, who is the wife of the chief director of corporate management in the department, Mbhazima Shiviti, commenced her duties last Monday.  The contentious appointment comes after the department advertised the position of chief director of advocacy and mainstreaming in January, clearly stating that “preference will be given to applicants with a disability”.  One candidate, Xolela Batembu, who lives with a disability and is currently employed by the Land Claims Commission as deputy director, was not even shortlisted for the position, but was merely told that he did not qualify, despite his extensive work experience and post-graduate qualifications.  Also overlooked was Manthipi Molamu, a disabled director at the department of social development, who – unlike Batembu – was shortlisted and interviewed, but later informed that the department had decided to appoint someone else.  Batembu questioned Mabelebele’s appointment, alleging that Shiviti had “facilitated the appointment” by being “heavily active in the appointment process of the interviewing committee”.  The department’s director of communications, Shalen Gajadhar, dismissed such claims, saying Shiviti had recused himself from the entire process that led to the appointment of Mabelebele when he learnt of her application.

• Read the full original of the detailed report in the above regard by Juniour Khumalo at City Press (paywall access only)

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