Recently appointed communications minister Yunus Carrim is set to put the lingering issue of communications director-general Rosey Sekese's incumbent powers to bed.
Carrim says Sekese's "precise powers" are being negotiated and will be finalised following an upcoming meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Communications (PCC) that will "deal with some outstanding issues".
Last November, the PCC deemed Sekese to be dishonest in her statements to the committee, saying she had lied when she provided misleading evidence about signing a performance agreement with the Department of Communications (DOC).
Sekese was initially placed on special leave around 20 January and deputy director-general Gift Buthelezi was appointed as acting DG until 15 February. Subsequently, in mid-February, the DOC said Sekese was still on leave.
The department noted the "matter [of Sekese being on special leave] is being handled internally," without referring to specifics. Buthelezi was asked to continue acting as director-general.
While the suspension was lifted in April, Sekese returned to the post - minus some of the key powers she previously held.
Carrim says, in the meantime while awaiting clarity on her exact powers, "Sekese is legally the director-general of the Department of Communications".
Role and responsibilities
As the department's accounting officer, Sekese's role ultimately includes supporting the minister and deputy minister, Stella Ndabeni, in implementing government policies.
She also oversees the development of ICT policies and strategies that "will place the country at the cutting-edge of development in the ICT environment in order to meet the strategic objectives of the country".
The director-general's responsibilities include making sure provision of ICT infrastructure is robust, reliable, affordable, secure and able to support a multiplicity of applications and services.
Also included in the role is supporting the minister in providing leadership, guidance and oversight support to ICT state-owned entities.
Sekese was appointed by former minister Roy Padayachie in May 2011, after having previously worked in the department as deputy DG of ICT infrastructure development, from 2006 to 2011.
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