By Thys Khiba – Troubled Free State treasury head Masechaba Sesing has allegedly instructed Ramapai Attorneys to ask officials to sign sworn affidavits ahead of their Public Service Commission (PSC) appearance.
Two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, alleged that Sesing forced them to sign papers before they appear on Friday.
BREAKING NEWS| Free State Treasury HOD Silences Officials Prior to PSC Appearance
The departmental spokesperson Tshidiso Mokokoane was asked if these allegations against Sesing are true or false. Mokokoanecould not neither confirm nor deny the allegations levelled against Sesing.
“My stance on this matters remain the same, we are not going to entertain any media enquiries relating to matters that are under investigation.
“Let PSC do its job and after they conclude their investigation we will be able to respond,” said Mokokoane.
An attempt to get a response from the office of Premier MxolosiDukwana on this matter was unsuccessful.
The PSC spokesperson Humphrey Ramafoko refused to comment on the allegations.
“Kindly note that the Public Service Commission is currently busy with the investigation and will not comment until after the conclusion of the process.”
Sesing has been accused of spending nearly R1 million on legal fees to fight the PSC’s investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities involving her and other five officials.
It is alleged that the department is expected to spend more than a R1000 000 on legal services rendered by the Rampai Attorneys.
Free State treasury HOD spends R1m on legal fees fighting PSC
Sesing has instructed five officials ahead of their PSC appearance to not discuss their appearance with ‘anybody’ as they would be advised by Rampai attorneys.
“Rampai attorneys will be representing them in that enquiry and on any matter related thereto, as they were part of the panel, in their official capacities.
“They should not discuss this matter with anybody as they would be advised and guided by the aforementioned attorneys,” reads the leaked document.
This comes after the PSC taken action against five officials who failed to appear before the commission on 13 June 2023.
On 12 June, Rampai Attorneys wrote to the commission indicating that the summoned officials will not appear on the scheduled appearance.
The officials were directed to appear before the PSC on Friday, 28 July 2023.
The attempt by the PSC to have officials appearing before the commission on Friday failed as they were allegedly prevented by Ramapai Attorney’s accompanied by Lubbe (SC).
An attempt to get a response from the department on how much they have spent on legal fees since they have requested legal services of Rampai Attorneys on this matter was unsuccessful.
Mokokoane could not neither confirm nor deny the alleged amount of legal fees.
“As indicated in my earlier response that the department is not in the position to respond to the ongoing internal investigations. However, the department will issue a full media statement after all the investigations have been concluded,” said Mokokoane.
The PSC wrote a letter to the Premier Mxolosi Dukwanainforming him about Sesing’s alleged involvement in flouting human resources recruitment processes and their investigation.
“The CFO, a Ms Botes, colluded with the HOD (Sesing) by telling her the selection panel recommended a candidate the HOD did not prefer. The HOD immediately called two other panel members and instructed them to reconvene and reconsider their decision,” reads the letter.
In February 2023, as the newly appointed provincial chairperson of the ANC and Premier in the Free State, Dukwana said opportunities will no longer be given only to those who are politically connected to the governing party in the province.
“Gone are the days when opportunities are given only to loved ones and the politically connected; nepotism and neopatrimonialism shall be a non-existent ethic during this period,” said Dukwana.
Dukwana shared this view with the public shortly after he was sworn in as premier.
Questions were sent to the office of Dukwana via his spokesperson Sello Dithebe, but a response had not been received at the time of publishing.
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