The Democratic Alliance (DA) has come out in support of an independent inquiry into the management of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS).

Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Dr Siyabonga Cwele and the Public Service Commission (PSC) this week initiated the inquiry to flesh out “ongoing leadership challenges” hampering the department’s ability to “execute its functions timeously”.

“The DTPS has been in a state of upheaval for some years,” DA Telecommunications and Postal Services Shadow Minister Marian Shinn said, commending Cwele for taking action on “a dysfunctional department”.

Following July 10 and 13 branch meetings, where several concerns, including mismanagement, were raised by staff members, Cwele called on the PSC to unpack the role senior management, including director-general Rosey Sekese, had played in the misdirection of the department.

Sekese was requested, in what Cwele described as “merely” a precautionary step and not punishment, to provide reasons, within 72 hours, on why she should not be placed on precautionary leave of absence – with full pay – for the duration of the inquiry.

Shinn pointed out that Sekese was due to appear before the DTPS Parliamentary Portfolio Committee this week to report on the department’s first quarter results.

Last week, the DA reported the exit of three deputy directors-general (DDGs) within a five-month period, leaving two DDGs – State-owned companies oversight DDG Sibongile Makopi and infrastructure support DDG Tinyaiko Ngobeni – in charge of six departments.

DDGs for administration Sam Vilakazi, information and communications technology (ICT) policy and strategy Themba Phiri and international affairs Gift Buthelezi had left the department earlier this year after disciplinary actions, while ICT information society development and research DDG Reneva Fourie resigned last year.

The DA also noted the departure of legal director Lerato Molete, procurement assistant director Masotla Sebona and strategic management deputy director Judy Stevens.

Further, the DA alleged that Sekese had issued 80% of DTPS’s senior staff warning letters for nonperformance in the first quarter of the financial year.

Shinn said the upheaval within the DTPS had been exacerbated during the past year by ongoing internal disciplinary and Special Investigating Unit (SIU) inquiries.

“The two SIU investigations into the dubious megamillion-[rand] Media Corner deal and the ICT Indaba – which involves many department staff from director-general down – were due for completion [last] Friday, for imminent handover to President [Jacob Zuma],” she concluded.