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The Department of Employment and Labour has moved swiftly to institute a formal investigation into serious allegations of nepotism surrounding recent appointments in the Free State Province. These allegations have sparked community protests and threats to shut down the Labour Centre (LC), which is deeply concerning and demands urgent attention.

In response, the Acting Director-General (ADG), Jacky Molisane has revoked all Human Resources delegations from the Free State province, with immediate effect pending finalization of internal processes. A formal letter to this effect has been issued, and the ADG has directed that the investigation be finalised within two weeks.

The Department wishes to make it unequivocally clear: flouting HR processes and procedures will not be tolerated. Any employee found to have contravened our established HR protocols will be held fully accountable and will face the full consequences of their actions.

“We are entrusted with the responsibility to uphold the highest ethical and professional standards in the execution of our duties. This responsibility is not optional; it is fundamental to the integrity of our institution and the trust placed in us by the public," said Molisane

This incident serves as a strong warning to all employees: diligence, fairness, and transparency in all HR and administrative processes are non-negotiable. Any deviation from these principles undermines the credibility of the Department and the services we provide, added Molisane.

The Department strongly supports and protects whistleblowers who act in good faith to expose wrongdoing. However, any individual found to be abusing whistleblower protections to spread false information, manipulate processes will face disciplinary action. Whistleblowing must be rooted in integrity and a genuine commitment to accountability.

The Department acknowledges the concerns expressed by affected communities and reaffirms its commitment to constructive and transparent engagement. We remain steadfast in upholding fair and ethical recruitment practices and continue to provide inclusive platforms for communities to voice their concerns.

We call on the community and all stakeholders to allow the investigation to proceed without disruption and to work with the Department in ensuring that the Labour Centre remains a safe and productive space for service provision.

The Department remains committed to restoring public confidence and ensuring that all appointments and HR decisions are made in strict accordance with policy, merit, and ethical governance.

Further updates will be provided upon conclusion of the investigation.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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