Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle has placed education boss Mthunywa Ngonzo on special leave.
This follows Ngonzo’s short-lived victory on Friday when Bhisho High Court acting Judge Mazembe Ndzondo set aside disciplinary action instituted by MEC Mandla Makupula against him.
But in a letter seen by the Daily Dispatch dated December 14, Masualle said he was in possession of Ndzondo’s judgment, which dealt with the question of who had powers to discipline him – the premier or the MEC.
Ngonzo had argued in court that Masualle was his employer and had the power to discipline him, not Makupula his supervisor.
“The order is that the MEC’s decision to institute disciplinary proceedings against you is set aside. I am placing you on special leave from until further notice,” Masualle said.
“The office of the Director-General will be responsible for the coordination of your employment matters from onwards.”
Masualle said Mbina-Mthembu had been given specific instructions to communicate with Ngonzo or his lawyer, Vuyani Majebe.
Approached for comment, provincial spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: “After carefully studying the judgment, the premier has decided to put Mr Ngonzo on special leave, while considering legal options.”
Asked why Ngonzo was placed on special leave, Kupelo declined to comment further. “That is all I’m prepared to confirm at this stage.”
Mbina-Mthembu said: “May I please request that employer/employee issues be respected as they are confidential matters. I therefore can not comment on any of your questions.”
Majebe confirmed receipt of the letter from Masualle but said he found it bizarre that there were no reasons for the decision to place Ngonzo on special leave.
“The premier’s letter is silent on precise reasons for this perplexing decision. We have been promised by the office of the DG that it will communicate with us.”
Majebe said he hoped that Mbina-Mthembu’s office would communicate by the end of business today.
Provincial portfolio committee on education chairman Fundile Gadi said the committee would only comment once it had received a copy of Ndzondo’s order.
He said his committee would sit on January 5 in an attempt to prevent any hiccups emanating from having two centres of power as a result of having had two acting heads of departments when schools reopen next year.
The two acting heads of department are Ray Tywakadi and Sizakele Netshilaphala.
Tywakadi was replaced by Netshilaphala, who had been acting as the accounting officer while Tywakadi was the acting head of department.
The department had been paying salaries to three officials – Ngonzo, Tywakadi and Netshilaphala.
DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren said Ngonzo’s case had been delayed for more than one and half years.
“I’m disappointed because this matter has been dragging for too long. If they don’t have enough evidence to fire him, they must just let him return to work.”
UDM chief whip Thando Mpulu said Ngonzo should return to work. “There’s no money for a golden handshake.”
Education boss sent on leave
This follows Ngonzo’s short-lived victory on Friday when Bhisho High Court acting Judge Mazembe Ndzondo set aside disciplinary action instituted by MEC Mandla Makupula against him.
But in a letter seen by the Daily Dispatch dated December 14, Masualle said he was in possession of Ndzondo’s judgment, which dealt with the question of who had powers to discipline him – the premier or the MEC.
Ngonzo had argued in court that Masualle was his employer and had the power to discipline him, not Makupula his supervisor.
“The order is that the MEC’s decision to institute disciplinary proceedings against you is set aside. I am placing you on special leave from until further notice,” Masualle said.
“The office of the Director-General will be responsible for the coordination of your employment matters from onwards.”
Masualle said Mbina-Mthembu had been given specific instructions to communicate with Ngonzo or his lawyer, Vuyani Majebe.
Approached for comment, provincial spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: “After carefully studying the judgment, the premier has decided to put Mr Ngonzo on special leave, while considering legal options.”
Asked why Ngonzo was placed on special leave, Kupelo declined to comment further. “That is all I’m prepared to confirm at this stage.”
Mbina-Mthembu said: “May I please request that employer/employee issues be respected as they are confidential matters. I therefore can not comment on any of your questions.”
Majebe confirmed receipt of the letter from Masualle but said he found it bizarre that there were no reasons for the decision to place Ngonzo on special leave.
“The premier’s letter is silent on precise reasons for this perplexing decision. We have been promised by the office of the DG that it will communicate with us.”
Majebe said he hoped that Mbina-Mthembu’s office would communicate by the end of business today.
Provincial portfolio committee on education chairman Fundile Gadi said the committee would only comment once it had received a copy of Ndzondo’s order.
He said his committee would sit on January 5 in an attempt to prevent any hiccups emanating from having two centres of power as a result of having had two acting heads of departments when schools reopen next year.
The two acting heads of department are Ray Tywakadi and Sizakele Netshilaphala.
Tywakadi was replaced by Netshilaphala, who had been acting as the accounting officer while Tywakadi was the acting head of department.
The department had been paying salaries to three officials – Ngonzo, Tywakadi and Netshilaphala.
DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren said Ngonzo’s case had been delayed for more than one and half years.
“I’m disappointed because this matter has been dragging for too long. If they don’t have enough evidence to fire him, they must just let him return to work.”
UDM chief whip Thando Mpulu said Ngonzo should return to work. “There’s no money for a golden handshake.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos