Mokete Duma was removed from his seat as the head of Cogta by the former premier, Sisi Ntombela. The spokesperson for the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Tankiso Zola, confirmed that Duma has been acting as the departmental head for a while now. The terms and the duration of his contract as the acting HOD are unknown at the moment. The department had at least three acting HODs in a space of less than a year.

ALSO READ: Free State department still without HOD

MEC responsible for the department, Limakatso Mahasa, previously said the post remained vacant. However, Premier Mxolisi Dukwana was expected to make an appointment in the next few months. 

During April this year, the acting HOD was Tsoarelo Malakoane, who happens to be the HOD for the Department of Education. Malakoane replaced Zola Thamae, who has been acting in the position for over a year. The appointment was initially supposed to be filled by October 2022, while Ntombela was the premier. 

The department is not the only one without a head, as the position in the departments of Social Development and Community Safety, Roads, and Transport also remains vacant.

ALSO READ: Free State to appoint remaining HODs by end of October

Promises to fill the vacant HOD posts were made but not fulfilled. The number of acting HODs and Director-Generals (DGs) was previously put in the spotlight by the Minister in the Presidency when DA Member of Parliament, Mimmy Gondwe, asked for the number of DGs and HODs who were serving in an acting capacity on 1 June 2022. 

The minister’s reply revealed that 6 of 12 HODs are acting. The spokesperson to the Premier at the time, Palesa Chubisi, explained that three HODs assumed their positions in different departments, bringing the number of outstanding HODs to three.

ALSO READ: Ntombela appoints two female HODs in her cabinet

The three HODs who were recently appointed included Masechaba Sesing, who heads the Provincial Treasury; Mosa Masimene as HOD of Human Settlements; and Tshepiso Ramakarane to head Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta). 

In May 2022, the Free State Provincial Government (FSGP) had only five permanently appointed HODs, whilst six others only had acting contracts. This is despite numerous concerns raised by members of Parliament during the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) sitting in the Free State Legislature.

During the sitting in March this year, members of the NCOP cautioned the provincial government and municipalities to address the need for permanent HODs.

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