There is a serious leadership crisis affecting the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS), former and current officials say, laying the blame at the door of the ministry's director-general (DG) Rosey Sekese.
Former deputy DG Themba Phiri has revealed how he was fired this week from the department, after previously being asked by minister Siyabonga Cwele to withdraw his resignation, less than two months ago.
"Yes, I resigned on 19 May; however, minister Cwele asked me to come back and rejected my resignation in writing," says Phiri, who took up his post again two days later, on 21 May.
However, Phiri says he was subsequently charged by Sekese with maladministration and lying to Parliament's Ethics Committee in relation to former communications minister Dina Pule's actions.
At the time of his resignation in May, Phiri, alongside fellow DDG Sam Vilakazi, was facing disciplinary action instituted by Sekese relating to a R756 million deal to publicise digital TV migration. The deal, currently being probed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), was signed between the former Department of Communications and Johannesburg-based consultancy Media Corner.
This charge was also reinstated at the recent disciplinary hearing, says Phiri, even though the SIU probe is still under way. Sekese is alleged to be using internal disciplinary processes to purge officials from the department.
Phiri says while he objected to the disciplinary hearing, on grounds of "jurisdiction and procedural issues", and refused to be part of it, the hearing went ahead anyway.
"Apparently, a disciplinary hearing continued in my absence. On 1 July, Sekese terminated my services with the DTPS, based on a hearing outcome that took place in my absence," he explains.
Phiri says he was forced to vacate the premises, as department officials immediately changed locks to his office.
"The minister is in China, so there's very little that I could do. I am extremely aggrieved by this situation."
Not the first
Phiri is the second high-profile DTPS official to leave the department under acrimonious circumstances, after DDG Gift Buthelezi was fired via SMS by Sekese, in March.
Buthelezi was allegedly axed on accusations of failing to carry out his duties and/or insubordination, among others, but said at the time the charges are "fabricated" and vowed to challenge his dismissal in the Labour Court.
Phiri is also vowing to take action and says he is waiting for the minister to return from his trip to China to raise the issue with Cwele directly. "This is unfair labour practice and victimisation, because I still have not heard from the minister on his commitment to investigate the issues raised in the [original] resignation letter [submitted in May].
"This dismissal is unfair and unjust. I will meet with my lawyers to look at options available for me."
Phiri says he feels let down, but notes the relationship between Sekese and her deputy DGs has always been difficult and has impacted on the department's ability to function.
"Work is not moving with the department. She blocks everything we do," says Phiri, adding these concerns have been communicated to the minister, but no feedback had been received.
"There is a huge leadership void. The department deals with some very technical issues, in a space where this moves fast and the industry needs to move fast. But all the power seems to reside within the DG's office."
Meanwhile, a senior manager within the DTPS has confirmed the department is facing a management crisis, and little work is getting done. "We're not achieving anything. They might as well fire us all and close this department. But no one wants to speak up; we are all afraid for our jobs," she says.
The official says the split of the communications ministry last year - into the current Department of Communications and the DTPS - was a mistake. "It's since then that nothing is getting done."
Cwele's spokesman, Siya Qoza, could not be reached this morning, but he previously refused to comment on allegations surrounding Sekese, or the alleged leadership crisis plaguing the DTPS.
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