EASTERN Cape MPLs have raised concerns on how the legislature’s organogram structure was “changed” without their approval.
The members of provincial legislature are calling for the legislature’s recruitment process from 2009 to be investigated. This after they noted irregularities on how officials were employed in the legislature.
MPLs told the Daily Dispatch that the recruitment process was now only focusing on one region of the province – the former Transkei.
In a damning report compiled after a strategic session held in Port Elizabeth last month, MPLs claim the organisational structure was “manipulated and interfered with” against their knowledge, “to benefit certain individuals”.
In the report, which is in deputy Speaker Bulelwa Tunyiswa’s office, the politicians accuse legislature secretary Phumelele Ndamase of manipulating the structure to suit his personal interests.
But legislature speaker Fikile Xasa yesterday came to Ndamase’s defence saying the current structure was legitimate and approved by his office, which is the executing authority in the legislature.
MPLs who spoke to the Dispatch on condition of anonymity said a task team was established to look at reviewing the legislature’s previous structure. “They made recommendations and a workshop on the new proposed structure was held involving all stakeholders, including the labour component.
“However, the structure that was approved, was nothing close to what was recommended after the workshops,” an ANC MPL said.
The politicians claim they never gave a go-ahead for the structure, but Ndamase – whom they said only qualified to have a personal assistant – now also had a general manager, a senior manager, and an executive secretary in his office.
“The filling of this structure continues to present challenges and the recruitment is now focusing only in one region of the province. Some old, knowledgeable, qualified and experienced staff are being sidelined and this denies upward mobility.
“Some staff members are being demoted from their positions and morale in the legislature is very low, staff members are demotivated, some are sick and no one cares for them,” states the report.
The report further states Ndamase’s management style has affected the working conditions of staff resulting in go slows and silent protests.
The MPLs then recommended that the organogram structure be presented to members soon “in order for us to know who does what”.
“The recent recruitment after the implementation of the manipulated organogram must be investigated to establish authenticity of the process.
“The process should be investigated starting from 2009,” states the report.
Ndamase yesterday refused to comment on the report saying it was still unofficial and he cannot talk about it. He instead referred queries to Xasa’s office.
Xasa denied that the current structure was manipulated to suite Ndamase, instead blaming “politics at play in the institution” for such a damning report.
“We have an official structure here which is legitimate and was approved by my office as the executing authority here.”
“Members who are saying the structure was manipulated, are wrong, there is no truth at all to what they are saying.
“As far as I know, our structure is an official one and there will be no point in manipulating it.
“P eople have issues with the secretary and are using the institution to fight their political battles.
“What is going on here, one can easily say its interference and a political war, nothing else,” Xasa said. He however said the legislature will look at other issues raised by the politicians during their strategic session last month.
National Health and Allied Worker’s Union acting chairman in the legislature Thulani Tempi said they are have raised their concerns about the structure.
He however, refused to comment further fearing victimisation. —
EC MPLs call for Bhisho jobs probe
The members of provincial legislature are calling for the legislature’s recruitment process from 2009 to be investigated. This after they noted irregularities on how officials were employed in the legislature.
MPLs told the Daily Dispatch that the recruitment process was now only focusing on one region of the province – the former Transkei.
In a damning report compiled after a strategic session held in Port Elizabeth last month, MPLs claim the organisational structure was “manipulated and interfered with” against their knowledge, “to benefit certain individuals”.
In the report, which is in deputy Speaker Bulelwa Tunyiswa’s office, the politicians accuse legislature secretary Phumelele Ndamase of manipulating the structure to suit his personal interests.
But legislature speaker Fikile Xasa yesterday came to Ndamase’s defence saying the current structure was legitimate and approved by his office, which is the executing authority in the legislature.
MPLs who spoke to the Dispatch on condition of anonymity said a task team was established to look at reviewing the legislature’s previous structure. “They made recommendations and a workshop on the new proposed structure was held involving all stakeholders, including the labour component.
“However, the structure that was approved, was nothing close to what was recommended after the workshops,” an ANC MPL said.
The politicians claim they never gave a go-ahead for the structure, but Ndamase – whom they said only qualified to have a personal assistant – now also had a general manager, a senior manager, and an executive secretary in his office.
“The filling of this structure continues to present challenges and the recruitment is now focusing only in one region of the province. Some old, knowledgeable, qualified and experienced staff are being sidelined and this denies upward mobility.
“Some staff members are being demoted from their positions and morale in the legislature is very low, staff members are demotivated, some are sick and no one cares for them,” states the report.
The report further states Ndamase’s management style has affected the working conditions of staff resulting in go slows and silent protests.
The MPLs then recommended that the organogram structure be presented to members soon “in order for us to know who does what”.
“The recent recruitment after the implementation of the manipulated organogram must be investigated to establish authenticity of the process.
“The process should be investigated starting from 2009,” states the report.
Ndamase yesterday refused to comment on the report saying it was still unofficial and he cannot talk about it. He instead referred queries to Xasa’s office.
Xasa denied that the current structure was manipulated to suite Ndamase, instead blaming “politics at play in the institution” for such a damning report.
“We have an official structure here which is legitimate and was approved by my office as the executing authority here.”
“Members who are saying the structure was manipulated, are wrong, there is no truth at all to what they are saying.
“As far as I know, our structure is an official one and there will be no point in manipulating it.
“P eople have issues with the secretary and are using the institution to fight their political battles.
“What is going on here, one can easily say its interference and a political war, nothing else,” Xasa said. He however said the legislature will look at other issues raised by the politicians during their strategic session last month.
National Health and Allied Worker’s Union acting chairman in the legislature Thulani Tempi said they are have raised their concerns about the structure.
He however, refused to comment further fearing victimisation. —
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