The provincial education department has fired suspended acting head of department Dr Abe Seakamela after it found him guilty on three charges of misconduct.

This adds to a long list of senior officials suspended or fired for various reasons in the department. The department said Seakamela pleaded guilty to two charges of misconduct and the department subsequently found him guilty on another charge, resulting in his expulsion.

Department spokesperson Brian Setswambung said that Seakamela changed his earlier stance and pleaded guilty before the disciplinary chairperson could even make the final ruling.

“Both Dr Seakamela and his lawyer pleaded guilty to two charges of misconduct. This was contrary to the stance he adopted upon his suspension in August. The plea of guilt by Dr Seakamela was even done before the presiding officer could make a final ruling,” Setswambung said.

He said that the chairperson of the inquiry found Seakamela guilty on charges of irregular expenditure and unlawful transfer of staff.

“The amount involved in the irregular expenditure is in the range of R4000. On the issue of the transfer of an employee, Seakamela acted against a moratorium issued by MEC Louisa Mabe when she joined the department in May. He went on to move his wife from his office to another directorate and brought another staff member into his office as well,” he said.

Apparently, Seakamela was alleged to have illegally promoted his wife, who worked in his office and earned more than R400000 a year. But several investigations, including one done by the misconduct unit in the premier’s office, had cleared him of any wrongdoing.

After his suspension in August, Seakamela had allegedly referred his matter to the public protector and the department charged him for that.

Setswambung said by going to the Chapter 9 institution, Seakamela had bypassed internal processes.

“He was also charged and found guilty of prejudicing the department and provincial government’s administration by referring a forensic report to the public protector prior to exhausting internal remedies. On the basis of the guilty plea and the seriousness of the case, the ruling of dismissal was passed,” he said.

However, the department dropped charges for the promotion of Seakamela’s wife, who is understood to still be working at the institution.

Courtesy of http://www.thenewage.co.za