Axed Department of Communications (DOC) director-general Mamodupi Mohlala has not been gagged, but public service and administration minister Richard Baloyi has asked her to refrain from making public comments.
On Monday, Mohlala was denied access to her office at the DOC, even though a court order had stated that she return to work as the senior public servant there if no suitable alternative position had been found for her.
Mohlala threatened that day to instruct her attorneys to apply to the courts for warrants of arrest and obstruction of justice charges, should such attempts be made again to prevent her from returning to work.
However, she met with Baloyi late on Monday afternoon, and he pointed out to her that she was still a public servant and that there was a code of conduct to be followed.
Mohlala interpreted this as a veiled gagging order and an explicit reminder not to bring the government or any of its ministers into disrepute.
Free to speak
Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) communications and marketing chief director Dumisani Nkwamba says it was not a gagging order.
Nkwamba says Mohlala had agreed to an extension of her special leave until 5 October, when Baloyi should be able to find her a suitable position.
“When he has, then we will make a media announcement to this effect,” he adds.
Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda controversially fired Mohlala on 23 July, citing a breakdown in trust.
Mohlala then instituted a legal challenge to have her dismissal declared unlawful and also approached president Jacob Zuma to intervene. Zuma appointed Baloyi to either mediate or find Mohlala another public service position with the same employment terms and conditions.
Nyanda failed to justify his dismissal of Mohlala by not handing in his replying affidavit to her action in time, thus contributing to the present situation.
Nkwamba refused to comment on the Government Gazette published two weeks ago that had Department of Higher Education and Training director-general Mary Metcalfe appointing Mohlala as administrator of the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority - a position that Mohlala denied having had accepted.
“Right now, we cannot talk about specifics,” says Nkwamba.
Mohlala previously said a number of positions have been discussed. These include at Transnet, SA Airlink, and her preferred choice as head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
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