Heads roll at Education

TSHIRELETSO MOTLOGELWA
Staff Writer | Friday November 14, 2008 00:00

 

Mosoma was served with a letter on Wednesday suspending him with immediate effect. Last week, two senior members of Mosoma's staff, deputy director Bontle Menyatso and assistant director Cosmetic Molebatsi, were served with similar letters.

'This serves to inform you that I have been laid off my job, as in kicked out with immediate effect. My letter just says, 'I have failed to carry out my duties diligently...ironically I thought I was performing so well,' Mosoma wrote to his staff.

Another letter written by Molebatsi to staff said he is in the dark as to the reasons behind his suspension. 'I hold my head high with a clear conscience that the best I was offering maybe could have been not enough for my referees, but I know that I did everything with honesty and above board,' he said.

The Ministry of Education spokesperson, Nomsa Zuze, said that the three have been suspended pending investigations. 'I can confirm that the three are serving suspensions and that there is a process going on at the department. I cannot disclose the reasons for the suspensions,' she said.It is said the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC) is investigating the department. However, DCEC spokesperson, Lentswe Motshoganetsi, could neither confirm nor deny that they are probing the department.

The department has been at the centre of controversy with allegations of irregularities, especially in the placement of students in tertiary education institutions. The department is not new to controversy after a 2004 inquiry unearthed corruption and maladministration at the place.