Parliament’s finance watchdog, the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), has raised concerns with the "worrying" trend of removing directors-general in conflict with their political principals.
The trend has raised fears that many departments could struggle to fulfil their mandates. Directors-general are tasked with leading departments and ensuring their work is done.
This week Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane suspended her director-general, Gorbachev Mashitisho, accusing him of, among other things, failing to appear before the water and sanitation portfolio committee in Parliament in June, besmirching her integrity during a Scopa meeting earlier in 2017 and failing to conclude the terms of reference for a probe into tenders.
A few days later, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced the suspension of director-general Mike Mlengana.
Although the department remained tight-lipped about the reasons on Thursday, Farmers Weekly quoted Mlengana as saying he had been suspended for various reasons, including that he was not prepared to sign off on something he did not believe was above board.
Scopa chairman Themba Godi said the changes of leadership at departments created instability and undermined the fight against corruption.
"How will these leaders of departments apply themselves when they know their tenure is not guaranteed?
"It cannot be right that when a new minister is appointed, he or she replaces the department’s leadership team.
"We need continuity … this also affects service delivery and the effective utilisation of economic resources … we need political maturity," said Godi.
He said it was clear the suspensions of the two directors-general and the removal of Thokozani Magwaza as CEO of the South African Social Security Agency had to do with tenders. "We have always said ministers must stay away from tenders. Parliament should
look into it."
This week Richard Sizani, the chairman of the Public Service Commission, said the body had noted the reports of directors-general and heads of department resigning, being placed on suspension or being disciplined.
"The allegations that these actions emanate from tensions at the political-administrative interface is disconcerting, as a high rate of turnover at the most senior level in the public service can have a destabilising effect to these departments and ultimately on service delivery."
The National Development Plan, he said, referred to the fact that the state’s inability to pursue developmental objectives was caused by complex factors, including tension in the political-administrative interface.
"The [commission] hopes the disciplinary cases of directors-general and heads of department will be dealt with promptly to ensure fairness and accountability.
Long suspensions not only have a negative effect on the employee’s reputation, but also on the state," said Sizani.
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