President Ramaphosa places Director-General of PSC on precautionary suspension

President Cyril Ramaphosa informed the Director-General, Dr Dovhani Mamphiswana, on Thursday August 6 that the suspension with full salary takes effect immediately.

According to the statement, Ramaphosa’s suspension of Mamphiswana does not in any way constitute a judgment on the part of the president.

It stated that this is merely a precautionary suspension in terms of the disciplinary code and procedures for members of the senior management services (SMS) contained in chapter 7 of the SMS handbook for the public service.

In terms of a presidential minute dated February 27, Ramaphosa delegated to the minister of public service and administration the power to investigate if there was any improper conduct during the filling of a vacancy within the department.

The statement said a report on the investigation was presented to the president in his capacity as the executive authority designated by law to deal with career incidents, including disciplinary matters, pertaining to Directors-General.

In the report submitted to Ramaphosa it was recommended that he take formal disciplinary action against Mamphiswana. The president advised the Director-General of his intention to place him on precautionary suspension.

Following written representations by Mamphiswana, the president decided to proceed with placing the Director-General on precautionary suspension.

The statement said Ramaphosa has, in terms of Section 42A(3)(a) and relevant provisions of the Public Service Act, delegated to the minister of public service and administration the power to take disciplinary processes against the Director-General in terms of the disciplinary code applicable to heads of department as envisaged in chapter 7 of the SMS handbook as well as deal with all matters pertaining to the disciplinary hearing and its outcome, including, but not limited to – in the event of a guilty finding at the hearing – the implementation of the sanction pronounced by the chairperson at the hearing.

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