The Gauteng Provincial Government has clarified its decision to reinstate several senior officials who were previously placed on precautionary suspension, confirming that they have been reassigned to different roles within the provincial administration.
The reassigned officials include suspended Head of Department for Health, Lesiba Arnold Malotana, who has been temporarily deployed as a senior manager at the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
Suspended Head of Department for Community Safety, Nontsikelelo Sisulu, has been assigned to the Office of the Premier to support service delivery priorities, while suspended Community Safety Chief Financial Officer, Mduduzi Malope, has been deployed to the Department of Environment to assist with financial administration.
In a statement, the provincial government said the move aligns with public service labour regulations and aims to ensure service delivery is not disrupted while disciplinary processes continue.
“The Gauteng Provincial Government wishes to clarify the recent decision to bring back several senior officials who were previously on precautionary suspension and their reassignment to different positions within the provincial government,” the statement read.
Officials explained that the transfers are guided by existing public service policies, particularly provisions within the Senior Management Service Handbook and the Public Service Regulations.
“These precautionary transfers are in line with established labour and public service guidelines, particularly the 60-day guidance established through the Senior Management Service Handbook and the Public Service Regulations,” the government said.
Authorities emphasised that the regulation is intended to prevent prolonged paid suspensions and to promote efficient case resolution.
“According to the guideline, if an employee is suspended as a precaution, they must be allowed back to work after 60 days, unless formal disciplinary action has already begun against them during that period. The aim is to avoid open-ended paid suspensions and to guarantee timely resolutions,” the statement added.
The provincial government further stated that the decision also seeks to prevent situations where senior officials continue receiving salaries without contributing to public service delivery.
“In compliance with this regulation and to avoid the untenable situation of senior managers drawing salaries without contributing to service delivery, a practice this government firmly frowns upon, we are implementing precautionary transfers,” the government said.
“It is important to note that precautionary suspension is an administrative measure, not a punishment. Transferring officials to different roles minimises the risk of interference with ongoing investigations while their disciplinary processes continue independently,” the statement read.
Saturday Star
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