Cabinet has not discussed the dismissal by communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda of his director general Mamodupi Mohlala, says cabinet spokesperson Themba Maseko.
“Issues between a minister and his director general are discussed between the President (Jacob Zuma) the minister of public service and administration (Richard Baloyi) and the minister concerned. The issue does not come before cabinet for discussion,” Maseko said at a post-cabinet press conference today.
He went on to say: “The developments at the DOC (Department of Communications), did not come before cabinet and are being dealt with outside of the cabinet process.”
Maseko said that if the President, the affected minister and the minister of public service and administration, “.... agreed that the trust had broken down between the minister and the director general an agreement will be reached on the fate and the future of the director general.”
Nyanda suddenly dismissed Mohlala two weeks ago citing “a breakdown in trust” for his decision.
Papers filed with the Labour Court last week by Mohlala claims that since the President along with cabinet approves the appointment of a director general (the most senior public servant in a department), Nyanda therefore has no right to dismiss her on his own.
Mohlala claims in her court papers that the dismissal of a director general has to receive Presidential and cabinet approval.
A letter from President Zuma's office to Mohlala last week asked her to place her court action in “abeyance” in order to let an intervention by Blaoyi to have a chance. She initially rejected this offer, but then tentatively agreed to it ahead of the first court appearance last Friday.
Mohlala's case is scheduled to go before the Labour Court on 26 August.
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