Durban — Thami Mpungose, the chief director of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in KwaZulu-Natal, has thrown down the gauntlet, vowing to fight his “unfair” suspension.
Mpungose was suspended for alleged corruption along with three other officials at the department.
“Whoever is saying I was suspended for corruption is intent on tarnishing my unblemished record of 25 years in government. I'm entitled to seek appropriate legal relief.
“I've worked for the government for 25 years. I’ve never committed any corruption or been negligent in the execution of my duties,” he said.
A legal showdown between him and the department, led by Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, now looms.
“I'm unfazed by the suspension. The procedure was unfair as I was not afforded ample time to read an 80-page report to respond to allegations against me and three others.
“I asked for the report from the investigators, and it took a long time to get it. When it was finally submitted it was quickly accompanied by charges of misconduct and a letter placing me on suspension. ”
He said his problems started after the formation of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), which included the IFP, DA, ANC and NFP.
“I was sidelined from the start. An announcement was made to amakhosi and staff on July 4, that I was going to be fired.
“Reasons given in that public meeting were that we were used as political instruments by the previous administration and we interfered in Ubukhosi disputes,” said Mpungose.
Mpunguse said the payment of izinduna (headmen) was a source of his woes.
“Allegations of negligence were made regarding payment of izinduna in the Nobamba area in Babanango (in the north of KZN), where a dispute that has been raging since the ‘80s.
“Cabinet decided in 2014 that a commission should be established to deal with the boundary disputes among amakhosi in the Babanango area, but till now, that commission has yet to sit.”
Mpunguso said he was “victimised for doing my professional work with distinction and diligence for decades”.
“I’m not hopeful of a fair hearing going forward. But I still believe that our labour relations institutions and courts will be able to do justice on the matter because I know I’m innocent.”
He is not the first casualty of the IFP-led GPU which aims to clean up corruption in provincial government.
In August, Premier Thami Ntuli suspended the head of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sboniso Majola.
While the reasons for his suspension were not disclosed, Ntuli said the allegations against Majola "were serious enough to warrant drastic action”.
Approached for comment, the spokesperson for Cogta, Senzelwe Mzila, said: “The department does not comment on labour relations matters.”
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