Central SA
Northern Cape double-salaries employee pays back the money─── TSHEHLA KOTELI 12:15 Fri, 22 Sep 2023
“Both the Department of Agriculture and the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality must investigate the matter with urgency and if there are instances of fraud found, the department should immediately employ corrective measures.”
A day after OFM News sent inquiries to the parties involved in Moses Moalosi’s double salaries controversy, bank records show he paid over R100,000 to the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality.
Moalosi received more than R35,000 montly from the municipality while he was also employed by the Department of Agriculture in the province. The salaries received were for February, March, and April, according to documents seen by OFM News.
Moalosi resigned as the speaker of the district municipality in 2021 after a video of a sexual nature he was involved in surfaced. OFM News is awaiting a reply from the municipality sent on Wednesday (21/09) to establish when was he reemployed by the municipality.
Payment made by Moses Moalosi to ZF Mgcawu District Municipality. Picture supplied
The records which were leaked to OFM News show that Moalsi was appointed as a portfolio coordinator in the office of the MEC for Agriculture on 5 December 2022 and started working in the Kimberley office the next day. A few months later, he signed another contract, which extended his term by six months. An inquiry has been sent to the department.
While those involved in paying salaries to Moalosi remained silent, the office of the premier gave assurance they would monitor the situation to ensure it is adequately addressed. Spokesperson Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams said Premier Zamani Saul viewed the allegations in a serious light.
“Both the Department of Agriculture and the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality must investigate the matter with urgency, and if there are instances of fraud found, the department should immediately employ corrective measures.”
The leaked letter informing Moses Moalosi of the contract extension. Picture supplied
Political parties in the province have also aired their concerns over the Moalosi scandal. The DA and Cope have accused the ANC of cadre deployment policy, as Moalosi was a Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) member.
Pakes Dikgetsi from Cope said he found it strange for Moalosi to be appointed as a portfolio coordinator in the office of the MEC because according to his knowledge, there is no such position. “Such posts are often created by cadre deployment within the ruling party to ensure employment for party members, especially individuals such as Moalosi, who hold office on the provincial executive committee.”
Dikgetsi said Moalosi’s salary was the salary of directors and he is not sure if Moalosi holds the required qualifications for him to hold such a position. Moalosi’s appointment letter details he will get an annual salary of R811,560. His extension contract in the department was signed and approved by the director of Human Resource Management, the Chief Director of Corporate Services, and the acting Head of the Department.
Moses Moalosi allegedly received one of the salaries from the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality. Picture supplied
Northern Cape DA MPL Michael Kaars said it is clear there is a case to be investigated against the municipality and the department following the allegations that Moalosi was receiving payments from the two. They raised the issue with the Special Investigation Unit on 1 September 2023. “We trust that any other criminal investigations resulting from complaints raised by members of the public will run parallel to this investigation.”
The DA in the Northern Cape will hold the ANC to its commitment to act against allegations of fraud and financial misconduct in respect of an ANC PEC member found to be benefiting from two salaries paid by the state.
The Ministerial Handbook dated 13 April 2023 stated the creation of a portfolio coordinator may be justified for MECs responsible for specific departments. It appears the loophole was exploited to approve Moalosi's contract extension.