Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has found that former Ekurhuleni City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi committed improper conduct. The finding relates to the appointment of a senior metro police official who did not have the required qualification.
The report was released on Thursday as part of a series of investigation reports by the Public Protector.
The probe looked at the City of Ekurhuleni’s 2022 appointment of Ndumiso Aschendorf Gcwabe. He was made Deputy Chief of Metro Police for Security and Loss Control.
“As a result, we find that Mr Gcwabe did not qualify for the position of Deputy Chief of Metro Police. In the circumstances, we further find that the conduct of the former City Manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi as Accounting Officer of CoE at the time of appointment of Mr Gcwabe constitutes improper conduct,” Gcaleka said.
The investigation started after a complaint in August 2023. Vukile Mlungwana lodged it on behalf of the Municipal Employees and Civil Servants Union (MECSU).
Mlungwana said Gcwabe did not meet the minimum requirements for the job. The post called for a relevant bachelor’s degree or an equal qualification at NQF level 7.
The Public Protector found that the highest qualification after matric on Gcwabe’s CV was a National Diploma in Policing. That diploma is graded at NQF level 6.
The report also found that city officials did not properly check his academic qualifications. The City’s Talent Acquisition Policy required them to do so.
The City had used a private service provider to check his qualifications before he was appointed. But Gcaleka found that this only confirmed that the documents were real.
It did not confirm the NQF levels with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), as the City’s policy requires.
Gcaleka found that this failure broke constitutional, legislative and municipal policy rules. She ruled that Gcwabe’s appointment was irregular.
Mashazi has also faced separate allegations at the Madlanga Commission, including evidence about her time as Ekurhuleni city manager. The commission has referred her name for further investigation.
Gcaleka ordered Ekurhuleni’s Executive Mayor to table the report before the municipal council within 90 days. The council must discuss the finding and approve steps to deal with the appointment.
These steps could include taking the matter on judicial review under the Labour Relations Act. The City Manager must help the Executive Mayor prepare the matter for council.
The Public Protector also told the municipality to train its human resources staff who handle hiring on the Talent Acquisition Policy.
The training must make sure qualifications and their NQF levels are checked through SAQA before future appointments are finalised.
Gcaleka said the City Manager must send her an action plan within 30 days, showing how the remedial action will be carried out.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL. Image: IOL. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.