Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele says he agrees with the Public Service Commission’s recommendation that there should be an independent inquiry into the management affairs of the department.

The Minister is considering placing Director General Rosey Sekese under precautionary leave of absence for the duration of the inquiry.

He has requested her to write and submit to him reasons why she should not be placed on precautionary leave of absence. She has been granted 72 hours to submit her reasons to the Minister.

During his budget vote speech in May, Cwele indicated that he was attending to the ongoing leadership challenges which were negatively impacting the department’s ability to execute its functions timeously.

This followed concerns raised from individuals and managers of the department about the paralysis within the department.

Cwele approached the Public Service Commission for assistance regarding the role played by senior management, including the Director General, in the dysfunction of the department.

The Public Service Commission reviewed the concerns and determined that the seriousness thereof warranted an independent inquiry.

Cwele on Monday said he concurred with the commission to initiate an independent inquiry with the following terms of reference:

• Reasons for the inaccuracies on the delegations of authority submitted to the former and current Minister by the Head of Department.
• The lawfulness of the application of the delegations of authority by the former Minister of Communications to the Head of Department, dated 19 September 2013, in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services.
• The irregular appointment of two employees to the same post of Media Liaison Officer in the Office of the Deputy Minister.
• The regularity of the finalisation of the performance assessment process for members of the SMS for the 2013/14 Financial Year.
• The tension/ destabilisation at the senior echelons of the department, and the role of the Director General.

The enquiry will also look at the circumstances and the role of the Head of Department in the disciplinary action taken against the three Deputy Directors-General, including Dr Sam Vilakazi, Themba Phiri and Gift Buthelezi as well as the abuse of power and situations of conflict of interest in the relationship with the three Deputy Directors General.