Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
DATE: 12 May 1998
The Acting Director-General, Dr Ted Pekane - acting on behalf the provincial government - has laid charges of possession of stolen government documents against the Democratic Party. This follows the distribution of the documents to the media yesterday.
Meanwhile, Premier Mathole Motshekga has said at the provincial legislature that the DP had used unacceptable avenues to exercise political oversight over the executive arm of government. Dr Motshekga says statements made about the Acting Chief Director in the Office of the Premier, Ms Fikile Magubane, infringe on her dignity and harm her career. Ms Magubane is seeking legal advice on the matter.
Dr Motshekga also dismisses allegations that Acting Director of Protocol and Intergovernmental Relations in his office, Ms Pumla Shabalala, is a friend of his wife. He says Ms Shabalala is "caught in a cynical game of throwing as much mud as possible in the hope that some of it will stick". Dr Motshekga has also called for an apology from the DP's Peter Leon at the Legislature on this matter.
On the question of the alleged nepotism, Dr Motshekga says it is clear that in "Mr Leon's racist mind, all black people are the same, they all belong to one massive extended family which makes any appointment, on merit, impossible. Motshekga added that when real nepotism is done by white liberals it is acceptable, adding "that is why he (Leon) has never stopped to consider the DP's practice of nepotism of having Tony Leon as its national leader and Peter Leon the Gauteng provincial leader".
Dr Motshekga re-affirmed his prerogative to appoint staff to acting positions in terms Section 32 of the Public Service Act of 1994, which states that "an executing Authority or head of department may direct any officer under his/her control to temporarily perform duties other than those ordinarily assigned to such an officer, or appropriate to the grade, designation or classification of his/her post; and he or she shall comply with such a direction".
Motshekga added that government is re-instituting the code of secrecy in terms of Section 20(m) of the Public Service Act of 1994 which, if breached, would constitute misconduct. He commended all other political parties in the opposition "that have not debased themselves by resorting to using stolen official documents to engage in their political battles". Dr Motshekga re-iterated that the legislature was the constitutional mechanism available for all political parties to engage in political debate.
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