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City Press reports that as questions over stability in the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) begin to pile up, spokesperson Richard Mantu said leaked information was “a misrepresentation and diversion of the facts at hand”.
He was referring to questions about the department’s decision not to renew the contracts of three senior managers, allegedly on the grounds that the individuals were seen to be too close to suspended director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi. The trio allegedly had a “legitimate expectation” that their contracts would be renewed, based on their performances. The department already had a 20% vacancy rate, a factor that contributed to the friction between Tlhakudi and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. Earlier this year, Gordhan declared a moratorium on the filling of the vacant posts. Two weeks ago, government placed Tlhakudi on precautionary suspension, pending a disciplinary process. He faces accusations that he overruled an interviewing panel’s recommendations in the appointment of a security manager. Instead he allegedly wanted a candidate of his choice to be installed in that position. Those sympathetic to Tlhakudi blame the fallout on Gordhan’s tendency to micromanage and a dispute over the valuation of SAA prior to its partial sale to a private consortium. Vacant critical DPE positions included the following: deputy director-general of energy resources, who provides technical oversight on Eskom, diamond mining company Alexkor and the SA Forestry Company; deputy director-general of transport, who provides technical oversight on Transnet, Denel, SAA and SA Express; and deputy director-general for business enhancement, who is responsible for monitoring socioeconomic programmes such as skills development, corporate social investment and localisation. A chief director is overseeing Denel in an acting capacity, while a director is overseeing Transnet, SAA and SA Express.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Setumo Stone at City Press (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page