DA calls for investigation into appointment of Mogale City HR Manager who was fired at SABC

1 May 2021

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile to investigate the appointment of the ANC-led Mogale City’s Human Resources Manager, Keobile Edwin Mosweu.

This follows MEC Maile’s revelations that the Mogale City’s Municipal Manager was not aware that Mosweu was fired from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as no verification checks were conducted on his work history. However, Mosweu did disclose to the interview panel that he had labour-related issues with his former employer which were sub judice.

This information was revealed by MEC Maile in a written reply to my questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. 

Mogale City evidently does not have a verification mechanism in place to check the credentials of the candidates before appointments.

The fact that the panel proceeded with the interviews and recommended Mosweu for the position despite disclosing labour issues with his former employer, raises serious suspicions.

 We are in possession of a document which indicate that Mosweu was fired from SABC on 19 February 2019 for four charges, of which two are for gross dishonesty, abuse of power and failure to act in the best interests of the company, and breach of clause 6.2.1 of the code of business ethics. 

This clearly indicates that Mosweu lied to the interview panel that his matter with his former employer was sub judice while knowing that he had been fired.

 We have been reliably informed that the advert for Mogale City’s Human Resources Manager was advertised three days after Mosweu was officially fired from SABC. There are allegations that Mosweu is related to the Mogale City’s Executive Manager for Cooperate Services.

 We will be writing to MEC Maile, giving him 30 days to investigate whether proper procedures were followed in hiring Mosweu, why there was no vetting process conducted, whether he is fit to hold the position despite being fired from the SABC, and what actions he will take should he find that the appointment was irregular. 

 Should it be found that proper procedures were not followed in hiring Mosweu and that he is unfit to hold the position, he should be dismissed as a matter of urgency.

Issued by Solly Msimanga, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), 1 May 2021