A witness testifying at the Parliament’s inquiry into suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office, told the committee she wanted to fire a former spokesperson for calling her by her name.
The committee has been hearing testimony from Gumbi Tyelela, an executive manager in the office of the Public Protector. Tyelela spoke about labour disputes and disciplinary matters, specifically in relation to Mkhwebane’s attempts to dismiss her spokesperson Cleo Mosana in 2018.
According to Tyelela’s affidavit, Mosana’s last working day was on 30 April 2019. She worked as the spokesperson of the Public Protector for one year and 10 months. She left after giving a 24-hour notice.
“I recall it was on a Monday morning when I was called to the PP boardroom, just after 08:00. Present was both Ms Mosana and the then chief of staff, Linda Molelekoa. The PP came in,” reads Tyelela’s affidavit, which he confirmed to the evidence leader, advocate Nazreen Bawa SC.
The affidavit continues: “She was upset and indicated that she no longer wanted to work with Ms Mosana as she did not want to be doing her work, and that Ms Mosana was disrespecting her by calling her by her first name ‘Busisiwe’.
“She indicated that Ms Mosana must go home and serve her notice form home. No details were provided as to what precisely in relation to Ms Mosana’s work had brought this about.
“I intervened and requested that Ms Mosana leave the room whereafter I informed the PP that what she had done was dismiss Ms Mosana without any process and that she could not do so. Apprised that she did not want to work with Ms Mosana any longer, I requested that she allowed me to deal with the matter going forward.”
Mosana was offered another post but she declined. A labour dispute ensued which resulted in the legal proceedings costing the PP office R 468 574, 58.
Source: News24, Eyewitness News, IOL, image from IOL