The Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms Nomakhosazana Meth firmly rejects the misleading allegations and incorrect assertions contained in the mainstream and social media regarding the appointment of the Acting Director-General. These claims are factually incorrect, legally misconstrued, and based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the applicable public service legislative framework, including the Public Service Act, 1994, and the Public Service Regulations, 2016, as published in 2022 by the DPSA.

The appointment was made strictly within the bounds of the law. In terms of section 3(7)(b) of the Public Service Act, the Minister, as Executive Authority, is empowered to exercise all necessary functions relating to recruitment, appointment, and other career-related matters of departmental employees. In addition, Regulation 57(2)(b) of the Public Service Regulations, 2016, explicitly permits the appointment of personnel additional to the approved establishment for a period not exceeding 12 months where operational requirements justify such action.

The decision to appoint Ms Molisane on a six-month fixed-term contract therefore falls squarely within this legal framework and does not constitute any irregular deviation from prescribed processes.

It is important to correct the misrepresentation that temporary appointments of this nature require the approval of the DPSA, public advertisement or a competitive recruitment process. The applicable regulations do not impose such requirements for short-term appointments made to address urgent operational needs.

The narrative advanced in the media and social media incorrectly conflates different legal mechanisms, including for secondments, acting appointments, and fixed-term contracts, each of which is governed by distinct provisions. These mechanisms exist precisely to allow departments to respond efficiently to operational demands and to ensure continuity of governance and service delivery.

The appointment in question was necessitated by clear and pressing operational considerations. The Department required immediate executive leadership to stabilise its operations during a period of institutional transition, support ongoing reforms, including the unbundling of key entities, and address a critical executive-level capacity gap pending the completion of the permanent Director-General recruitment process. In these circumstances, the law expressly provides for interim administrative arrangements in the public interest, and the Minister acted accordingly within the scope of her lawful authority.

The Minister categorically rejects any suggestion that public service rules were bypassed or manipulated to favour any individual. Such allegations are baseless and unsupported by the facts. The appointment was informed by the appointee's academic qualifications, demonstrated capability, extensive experience, institutional knowledge, and deep understanding of the labour and governance environment, all of which are critical for ensuring stability and effective leadership during a complex transition period.

“This appointment was made in full compliance with the law and in the best interest of ensuring stability, continuity, and effective leadership within the Department during a critical period. We will not allow misinformation to undermine the integrity of lawful government processes or the confidence of the public in our institutions," said the Minister of Employment and Labour.

The Department remains fully committed to lawful, transparent, and accountable governance. The process to appoint a permanent Director-General is ongoing and will be finalised in full compliance with the provisions of the Public Service Act, including the requirements governing permanent appointments.

The Minister cautions against the publication and circulation of speculative or legally unfounded claims presented as fact, including through social media. This is particularly important where such claims risk undermining public confidence in the integrity of public institutions and besmirching the names of competent professionals.

As it stands, the Department has not received any correspondence from either the Public Service Commission or the Public Protector alerting us to a complaint or an investigation into the allegations being made. The Department recommits its availability and willingness to participate in any investigation by a competent authority and will do so when formally informed.

The Ministry calls on media practitioners and stakeholders to engage responsibly, verify facts against the applicable legal framework, and uphold the principles of accurate and ethical reporting. The Department remains available to provide clarity and engage constructively to ensure that public discourse is informed, balanced, and grounded in facts.

ENDS//

Media enquiries:

Ms. Thobeka Magcai, Ministry Spokesperson. Email: Thobeka.Magcai@Labour.gov.za 072 737 2205.

Issued by: MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR

DATE: 02 JUNE 2026

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