Nepotism Allegations Over Appointments of Unqualified Relatives

Statement by Angel Khanyile MP – DA Spokesperson on Women, Youth & People with Disabilities:

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Liezl van der Merwe, requesting that the Public Service Commission (PSC) appear before the Committee to provide a brief on its serious probe into allegations involving Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and Deputy Minister Steve Letsike.

Chikunga and Letsike are accused of seconding relatives from the Department of Transport and allegedly defying advice from the Minister of Public Service and Administration that they return to their original posts.

Not only are Chikunga and Letsike accused of appointing relatives to senior positions within the Department, but allegations further suggest that those appointed do not meet the required qualifications for these posts.

These are serious allegations that require urgent parliamentary oversight.

There are critical matters that the Department ought to be seized with, including appalling rapes of children and youth, the continued scourge of gender-based violence and femicide, and the dysfunction within the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). Yet, Chikunga and the Deputy Minister are allegedly focused on appointing incompetent relatives instead of addressing the serious challenges facing women, young people and persons with disabilities.

At the earliest opportunity, the PSC must brief Parliamentarians on the full allegations against the Minister and Deputy Minister, as well as provide clarity on when the probe’s findings are expected. This will allow the Committee to exercise effective oversight and ensure accountability.

South Africans deserve a Department that is hard at work addressing the issues facing them, not one distracted by allegations of improper appointments and failures of governance.