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It is therefore Nehawu’s view that the entire recruitment process is flawed, smelling of corruption and should not be continued with henceforth. - Nehawu     

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Sizwe sama Yende

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Limpopo premier, Stanley Mathabatha, has instituted an investigation following a union’s allegations that CVs of 20 highly qualified applicants went missing during the application process.

The National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) alleged that they understood the whole recruitment and selection process was being manipulated to enable Mathabatha to give his favourite people cushy jobs before he left office after the general elections this month.

“As the recruitment and selection process was underway, Nehawu was shocked to learn that more than 20 applications of highly qualified applicants were missing, and there was no valid explanation provided for such an anomaly,” the union said in a complaint dated May 6 2024.

The 22 posts were advertised in January this year.

Nehawu’s complaint has been apparently taken very seriously as the union has been gloating lately after the Hawks arrested labour relations director in Mathabatha’s office, Michael Maseko, for falsifying his CV.

Nehawu laid several charges, including the one against Maseko, with the Hawks in 2020 claiming that Mathabatha was aware of fraudulent activities in his office but turned a blind eye to them.

Maseko falsely claimed in his CV that he had a diploma accredited by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration  when he applied for the job in 2013, but the commission does offer South African Qualification Authority-accredited qualifications.

Maseko was however qualified and experienced enough to take the job without the ‘CCMA diploma.’

In the complaint, Nehawu also alleged that:

·      Applications submitted in person by qualified applicants were not scheduled, while those submitted through mail were scheduled;

·      It was aware of desperate attempts to place current staff members, friends and relatives to be appointed permanently before the end of Mathabatha’s term;

·      Panel members had confirmed to the union that director-general, Nape Nkadimeng, and Mathabatha gave them instruction to that certain individuals were appointed.

“It is therefore Nehawu’s view that the entire recruitment process is flawed, smelling of corruption and should not be continued with henceforth,” the union said.

Limpopo government spokesperson, Ndavhe Ramakuela, said that Nehawu’s complaint had been followed up.

“In light of the seriousness of the allegations we have instituted formal investigation into the matter. To this extent, we temporarily halted the process of recruitment until our investigations are concluded. This is to help not to compromise the integrity of the process whilst not compromising the need to fill vacancies. We shall speedily attend to this matter and provide necessary feedback,” Ramakuela said.