NONI MOKATI

JOHANNESBURG - Communications Minister Simphiwe Nyanda is still under fire following the dismissal of his director-general Mamodupi Mohlala.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) yesterday accused Nyanda of bypassing correct dismissal procedures and demanded he (Nyanda) explain to Parliament the contradiction of a letter he penned to Mohlala on July 20. “It is time we all receive some clarity and understanding,” DA MP Lindiwe Mazibuko said.

According to Mazibuko, in his letter to Mohlala, Nyanda stated that he wished to re-determine the director-general’s contract.

She argued that Mohlala was however given two days until July 22 to respond to the letter.

“Given that she had only been notified of contract re-determination, it must have been a great surprise when she learnt she had been summarily dismissed by Minister Nyanda from media reports on Friday, July 23. This is troubling information,” said Mazibuko, adding facts showed that Nyanda had disregarded due process and consideration of the law.

Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, Nyanda’s spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso said lawyers were in the process of drawing up an answering affidavit.

This after Mohlala approached the South Gauteng High Court to challenge her dismissal.

The Times reported yesterday that Mohlala had listed several instances that led to her “invalid, unlawful and unfair” dismissal.

According to the former director-general, there were several cellphone text messages from Nyanda’s chief of staff, Alfred Mashishi, in which Nyanda instructed her to suspend all tenders issued and those in the pipeline until they were discussed and approved by him.

She also claimed that Nyanda wanted her to reinstate suspended human resources director Basani Baloyi and to drop all legal proceedings against her.

Rikhotso declined to comment on the Baloyi matter, only saying it was sub judice.

nonim@citizen.co.za