Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi is under scrutiny again. This comes after her department allegedly appointed the former Deputy Director-General (DDG) from the Office of the Premier, Buti Chuma to a non-existing portfolio.
Chuma, who was transferred from the Office of the Premier is appointed as DDG for the Early Childhood Development portfolio, which is ‘non-existence’ at the department. A highly-ranked source within the department said, Chuma was actually demoted to a Director position, even though he still earned a salary of a DDG.
“We know that Chuma was purged and demoted because he was a staunch supporter of the former North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo. The new ANC leadership continues to purge individuals, who are believed to be in a different faction, now, Chuma has to bear the brunt.
“He is actually a Director, even though he still earns a salary of a DDG. So, in a nutshell, he is a DDG without a portfolio. They are doing this to keep him quiet and neutralise him. We have a DDG for Institution, DDG for Curriculum and DDG for Cooperative Services. So, DDG for Early Childhood Development is non-existence,” our source said.
However, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said: “Chuma was transferred from the Office of the Premier. The then Premier and the then MEC agreed on the transfer of Chuma. The Premier relied on Section 14(1) of the Public Service Act. So, Chuma is not an Assistant Director as you suggested, but a Deputy Director General (DDG).”
Meanwhile, a week ago, Motsumi was also accused of appointing her ‘crony’, Advocate Tumisang Moremane as the Director of Legal Services without following due process.
The source, who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “I am of a view that the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) is bound to collapse. The North West Department of Education has just appointed a lawyer from UNISA to act as Director for Legal Services.
“Moremane is not even an employee in the public service and holds no position. He comes from the University of South Africa (UNISA), where the chairperson of the ANC Provincial Disciplinary Committee (PDC) is working. It is surprising how he is able to act as the Director without being employed,” he said.
He further said this is exactly what the North West Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) is doing by allegedly hand-picking political office appointees to preside over municipalities. The source added that there is another department that is on the verge of doing the same.
“What went wrong? It’s worse because the doers are most senior party leaders. We shall not give up, anyway, this man does not even have a letter to allow him to act, but he is already signing papers and suspending officials. We are being taken for granted,” he said.
The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi and Motsumi spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane failed to respond to the media inquiry, despite being sent to them three weeks ago.
The Guardian 