The Eastern Cape government is to be without a permanent director-general (DG) after premier Phumulo Masualle announced the post would be re-advertised.
The position became vacant after Dr Loyiso Mbabane, who stands accused of raping a relative, resigned.
Mbabane was arrested barely a month after he took over the province’s top administration post from Mbulelo Sogoni.
Sogoni, who came second to Mbabane in a bid to renew his contract, ruled himself out of the “second race”. “I am not interested in this. I won’t apply. I’ve moved on,” said Sogoni when contacted yesterday regarding Masualle’s plan to re-advertise the DG position.
Mbabane’s resignation comes after East London court magistrate Merwin Meyer last Wednesday denied Mbabane bail, stating that it would be risky to release him as he could interfere with witnesses.
He was ordered to remain behind bars at East London’s West Bank prison until his next court appearance on March 24. However, his legal team escalated his bail application to the Grahamstown High Court, with legal papers filed on Friday, in a bid to have him released on bail before his next court appearance.
At the weekend Mbabane submitted his letter of resignation from the R1.7-million job he officially started on January 6. He resigned on the day he was scheduled to receive his first pay cheque.
In a media briefing at the Bhisho state house yesterday, Masualle broke his silence on the Mbabane matter and said the provincial government accepted his resignation.
He commended the former DG “for putting the interests of the provincial government and the office of the premier ahead of his own”.
Masualle said he was “deeply concerned” by such developments as the province was starting to feel Mbabane’s “positive impact”.
Mahlubandile Qwase will remain as acting DG until a new head is appointed.
The premier said he was also concerned about the province’s image being dented by scandals in recent months.
Masualle had last year sanctioned an investigation after allegations that senior administration personnel in various government departments were using their positions to solicit sexual favours from junior employees and interns in exchange for promotion and permanent employment.
Similar allegations also surfaced at the provincial legislature early last year, with speaker Noxolo Kiviet promising to assemble a task team to investigate such claims.
Yesterday Masualle said the investigation of what has since become known as the Bhisho’s sex-for-jobs scandal, had been escalated to the Special Investigative Unit, which is yet to furnish his office with its findings and recommendations.
“We are quite concerned about the image that is created in our province by these so-called sex scandals,” Masualle said.
The ANC also welcomed Mbabane’s resignation, with provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane yesterday saying: “As the ANC we champion children and women’s rights and we are not compromising on that. But at the same time we want to give the courts their time and space to drive this process the best way they know how.” — asandan@dispatch.co.za / zineg@dispatch.co.za / additional reporting by Siphe Macanda
Bhisho seeks replacement for Mbabane
The position became vacant after Dr Loyiso Mbabane, who stands accused of raping a relative, resigned.
Mbabane was arrested barely a month after he took over the province’s top administration post from Mbulelo Sogoni.
Sogoni, who came second to Mbabane in a bid to renew his contract, ruled himself out of the “second race”. “I am not interested in this. I won’t apply. I’ve moved on,” said Sogoni when contacted yesterday regarding Masualle’s plan to re-advertise the DG position.
Mbabane’s resignation comes after East London court magistrate Merwin Meyer last Wednesday denied Mbabane bail, stating that it would be risky to release him as he could interfere with witnesses.
He was ordered to remain behind bars at East London’s West Bank prison until his next court appearance on March 24. However, his legal team escalated his bail application to the Grahamstown High Court, with legal papers filed on Friday, in a bid to have him released on bail before his next court appearance.
At the weekend Mbabane submitted his letter of resignation from the R1.7-million job he officially started on January 6. He resigned on the day he was scheduled to receive his first pay cheque.
In a media briefing at the Bhisho state house yesterday, Masualle broke his silence on the Mbabane matter and said the provincial government accepted his resignation.
He commended the former DG “for putting the interests of the provincial government and the office of the premier ahead of his own”.
Masualle said he was “deeply concerned” by such developments as the province was starting to feel Mbabane’s “positive impact”.
Mahlubandile Qwase will remain as acting DG until a new head is appointed.
The premier said he was also concerned about the province’s image being dented by scandals in recent months.
Masualle had last year sanctioned an investigation after allegations that senior administration personnel in various government departments were using their positions to solicit sexual favours from junior employees and interns in exchange for promotion and permanent employment.
Similar allegations also surfaced at the provincial legislature early last year, with speaker Noxolo Kiviet promising to assemble a task team to investigate such claims.
Yesterday Masualle said the investigation of what has since become known as the Bhisho’s sex-for-jobs scandal, had been escalated to the Special Investigative Unit, which is yet to furnish his office with its findings and recommendations.
“We are quite concerned about the image that is created in our province by these so-called sex scandals,” Masualle said.
The ANC also welcomed Mbabane’s resignation, with provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane yesterday saying: “As the ANC we champion children and women’s rights and we are not compromising on that. But at the same time we want to give the courts their time and space to drive this process the best way they know how.” — asandan@dispatch.co.za / zineg@dispatch.co.za / additional reporting by Siphe Macanda
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