Nyanda fires his director-general

Added by Editor on 23 July 2010.
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Axed ... Mamodupi Mohlala

Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda has fired his director-general, Mamodupi Mohlala, saying that trust between the two had “broken down irretrievably”.

“In the interests of the department, the staff and the government, the minister has come to the conclusion that it would be best to release Mohlala from her position as director-general with effect from 23 July 2010,” Nyanda’s spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso said in a terse statement issued on Friday evening.

Talk of tension between Nyanda and Mohlala has been swirling for several weeks.

The minister has not explained the reason for his decision. However, media reports have suggested that Nyanda had threatened to rewrite Mohlala’s job specification, effectively taking away some of her administrative powers.

The Business Day newspaper reported last week that Mohlala had refused to approve tenders because they had been awarded “to people close to Nyanda” and his company, General Nyanda Security Services.

Nyanda’s statement says he and deputy communications minister Dina Pule tried to resolve the issue with Mohlala on Friday but did not succeed.

They say the issues threatened the day-to-day operations of the department.

Nyanda has appointed Harold Wesso as acting director-general until he can find a permanent replacement.  — Staff reporter, TechCentral

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  • Peter

    Perhaps Nyanda should stop the nepotism!?

  • Lia Stiller

    Just like Mohlala, Nyanda must be blamed for the digital tv mess in our country!

  • http://“DigitalTVmaybedelayed,saysNyanda” David H

    Is our minister being petulant, or is he operating in terms of best practise? Be interesting to see if his move ends up in the labour court or was a golden handshake offered to ease the pain of departure. Without knowing the full terms of reference may it be presumed Ms. Mohlala was applying the supply chain prescripts. It never ceases to amaze the way in which these persons in positions of authority constantly abuse the regulations and laws regarding the spending of public money. When all is disclosed they profess not to have known or there was misinterpretation of the law. If they can’t distinguish right from wrong, especially with so many consultants/advisors/specialists at their beck and call, what are they doing in public office? Because of all the negative public exposures of past wrongs by financially profitable tenders being awarded to the political elite, may one assume where there’s smoke there is a roaring inferno?

  • Frank

    Mohlala must be held personally responsible for the mess on the Digital standards debate – clearly an aspect she personally pursued outside of Cabinet decisions and against approved policy on the matter. Her recklessness has cost jobs, caused confusion within all of Southern Africa and has embarrassed South Africa within SADC and the international broadcasting community. For these actions, her disregard of the people of South Africa and the stakeholders in the Communications sector she should have been dismissed months ago.

  • Mark

    Frank, I couldn´t agree with you more! Mohlala was hunted by Brazilian lobby! She started the whole mess together with ex South African Ambassador of Japan that works at SABC nowdays….

    It´s a 4 hour sad story….

  • http://www.shoutsa.co.za McT

    There was something rather inevitable about this move by Nyanda. Like a spoilt brat, if he doesn’t his way “Kapow!” or is just his militarism coming out in him from the good old days, “Fire!”

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