SENIOR officials at the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) have raised concerns over the potential mismanagement of funds by the Secretary-General and head of the OCJ, on the bodyguards she appointed at the expense of the state.
Sources within the OCJ have said that this was unusual as the Chief Justice himself does not enjoy the same benefits afforded to Memme Sejosengwe who is accused of using her power to authorise the same benefits afforded to presiding officers and ministers.
It is alleged that Sejosengwe’s two protectors are given access to irregularly used vehicles that are allocated to the Constitutional court.
According to one of the senior employees who asked to remain anonymous, Sejosengwe’s protectors were hired by herself in July 2020 and have since been flying business class alongside their boss whenever she travelled to Cape Town.
“Over and above this, she has hired a vehicle to have her drivers transport her all over. This has amassed millions of rands to the tune of over R1.5 million. The Director-General of the same department does not even have bodyguards, but for some reason, she has protectors and nobody knows what she is being protected from,” said the source.
“Ordinarily, if you go to another province, your security gets provided by the state protectors from that province which you are at, but this is limited to the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, and Judges presidents, nowhere in the law does it include her to enjoy more power than the most senior judges in the judiciary. Then the assessment and recommendation must be made to the Head of Protection services who must approve or decline.
“OCJ pays for the vehicle used for her protection as well as overtime of protectors when these protectors. If they know their job, should hand her over to the other province’s protection detail when travelling. Even the Chief Justice is taken through the VIP lounge and then to the other province and takes over his security detail when he reaches the other province.
“What she is doing is irregular, the two protectors cost OCJ more than R60 000 monthly on subsistence and travel claims alone. Provision of Protectors is approved by the relevant people within the South African Police Service (SAPS) but he did not approve hers because there was never any police assessment.
“Anybody who dares to challenge her authority is dealt with decisively. A lot of people have been forced to resign because she is powerful and even some judges know,” said the official.
Among other allegations was that Sejosengwe had a suspicious relationship with the vehicle travel company doing business with the OCJ.
“She has an irregular relationship with Indaba Travel owners. She receives all expenses paid for vacations with her family from Indaba. The recent one was a trip in 2023 to Mauritius,” said the source.
Approached for comment, an OCJ spokesperson said the rendering of protection services by the police, fell within the ambit of their responsibilities and the OCJ could not respond to questions about protection services offered by SAPS.
On the issue of her relations with Indaba, he said that the OCJ has not received a formal complaint regarding these allegations.
“Any person with evidence of such wrongdoing should report and provide the information to the relevant authorities.”
The owner of Indaba Travel denied all allegations including that he had paid for Sejosengwe’s vacations.
“It is denied that Indaba Global Travel has ever funded any holiday for Ms Meme Sejosengwe or her family. Indaba Global Travel adheres to a strict code of conduct and would never engage in such activities that could be perceived as improper or unethical.
“We maintain a professional relationship with all our clients and do not offer any personal favours or vacations,” he said.
SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said that due to security reasons, the police would not comment on the security or protection of any government official.
The Judicial Administrative Manual book on the conditions and benefits for judges, the Chief Justice, deputy chief justice, and Judge President are entitled to the same security measures as in their official residences similar to those allocated to ministers, deputy ministers, and presiding officers.
Section 12 of the Act; Regulation 11 and Judges’ Administrative Manual stipulates that a “motor vehicle owned by the State may, on such conditions as the minister may determine with the concurrence of the Minister of Transport, be made available to a permanent Judge or acting Judge in active service or performing service, for use, under the conditions determined."
Last month, this publication revealed that Sejosengwe was reported to the Public Service Commission which admitted that it had referred the matter to the Justice Department in 2022. The ministry did not respond to the questions from the publication.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za