Department spokesman suspended on misconduct allegations

By ZINE GEORGE

The head of communications at the Eastern Cape department of social development, Gcobani Maswana, has been suspended.

The suspension comes after the department’s superintendent-general, Stanley Khanyile, served him with a letter last week informing Maswana he should give reasons why he should not be put on precautionary suspension amid allegations of misconduct.

The Daily Dispatch can reveal that Maswana was served with the suspension letter at his Port Elizabeth home, where he has been staying since Monday, after taking stress-related leave.

In the letter, Khanyile stated he was placing Maswana on “precautionary suspension pending further investigation into allegations of misconduct”.

The allegations include:

• “Gross misconduct or misconduct emanating from serious breaches of communication protocol publications”.

The letter states that the breaches of protocol relate to when the department commemorated child protection week in Lusikisi.

It is unclear when the event was held; and

• Allowing or leading persons “that were undesignated” to access the department’s Palmerton women’s development centre, also based in Lusikisiki.

Khanyile informed Maswana that he had been barred from entering the department’s premises during his suspension, and instructed him not to contact any of the social development staff, “directly or indirectly”.

Last week, the department’s head of supply chain management, Joyce Msutu, was also put on precautionary suspension. She is alleged to be involved in flouting procurement processes.

The Dispatch reported at the time that the suspensions of Maswana and Msutu, as well as Masiza Mazizi, who has since resigned, were believed to be related to their close association with Khanyile’s predecessor, Bea Hackula.

Hackula, who is also on suspension, did not see eye-to-eye with MEC Nancy Sihlwayi, who was her political head. Hackula accused Sihlwayi of interfering with administrative decisions.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Maswana refused to confirm whether or not he had been suspended and referred all questions to the department.

“I am in no position to comment about this matter,” he added.

Attempts to get a comment from the department had proved fruitless by print deadline.

The department’s spokesman, Mzukisi Solani, did not answer his cellphone and no response to text inquiries had arrived. — zineg@dispatch.co.za