Daily Maverick reports that the current Chief of Staff in the Office of the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, is allegedly the 22-year old niece of Tolashe’s special adviser, Ngwako Kgatla – and her qualifications for the role are questionable.
Lesedi Mabiletja has previously referred to Kgatla on Facebook as “the world’s coolest uncle”, while Mabiletja’s mother, Lekgale Mahlaku, has referred to Kgatla on Facebook as her “brother”. Kgatla’s close relationship with Minister Tolashe has made headlines on several occasions this year because of the allegedly preferential treatment he has received from the minister. The choice of chief of staff is at the discretion of the relevant minister. It is a position on a par with some of the most senior government leaders, and is on the third highest salary band in all of government, currently worth almost R1.4-million annually in taxpayers’ money.
Mabiletja, who was born in 2002, lists as her sole qualification a Diploma in Information Technology undertaken part time at Rosebank College in Polokwane. Her CV reveals that she has one year’s experience as “Manager Sales and Marketing” for the same college. That appears to have been her only job. She also lists “work experience as a volunteer” in the office of Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities Hlengiwe Mkhize, for three years and nine months.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rebecca Davis at Daily Maverick
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