Picture: The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi
By REGINALD KANYANE
20 June 2025- The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier and Finance has requested urgent investigations by the Commission for Gender Equality and the Public Service Commission (PSC) into alleged non-compliance with recruitment and selection procedures by the Office of the Premier.
This follows the appointments of Heads of Department (HoDs) for Education and for Economic Development.
During a recent follow-up meeting with the Office of the Premier, Director-General, Paul Mogotlhe acknowledged that, while advertisements for the HoD positions—along with the post for the Department of Social Development—encouraged applications from women, persons with disabilities, and marginalised communities, the selection panel ultimately recommended two male candidates for the vacancy in the Departments of DEDECT and Education. Mogotlhe said two male Heads of Department have since been appointed.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Nathan Oliphant said he noted with concern the continuing underrepresentation of women in senior roles. Oliphant said currently, there are 324 males and only 127 females occupying positions at level 13 and above across provincial departments and entities.
“We express disappointment that the report from the provincial government showed no progress since the previous meeting. We were misled. The provincial government indicated that no appointments were made in our sitting on 5 June 2025, and subsequent report that two men have been appointed for vacancies preferred for female candidates and persons with disability.
“Despite this, the appointments proceeded and did not reflect the advertised criteria. We are calling on both the Commission for Gender Equality and the Public Service Commission to investigate potential bias and discrimination against women, people with disabilities, and marginalised communities,” he said.
Oliphant further said the Office of the Premier, which should be leading by example, has failed to meet its employment equity obligations. He added that they will also request the Department of Labour to investigate the provincial government’s overall non-compliance with employment equity targets set for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2025, as no meaningful progress has been made.
“The committee’s position is that the provincial government must review these appointments, as they undermine the employment equity framework and continue to exclude those it is meant to uplift.
“The Premier and selection panels will be called to account. The Premier, as the appointing authority, apologised for his absence from the committee,” said Oliphant.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Gender Equality CEO, Dr Dennis Matotoka, confirmed that the Commission has engaged the provincial government on employment transformation since 2011, but progress remains slow.
“Equitable representation of previously disadvantaged groups—particularly women—in leadership roles is critical. Departments must adopt innovative, inclusive strategies to meet employment equity targets. Unfortunately, current recruitment practices are falling short,” said Matotoka.
The Guardian 