LOC drops ball on Mnisi appointment

Johannesburg, 27 Mar 2008

Industry insiders suggest the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) should have done a proper background check on Zakes Mnisi before hiring him as IT head.

The comments follow ITWeb's exclusive revelations earlier this week that the LOC had suspended Mnisi with immediate effect, amid allegations of financial impropriety.

One reliable source, who asked to remain anonymous, reveals to ITWeb that Mnisi has a record of corrupt activities.

"In 2005, Mnisi was suspended from arivia.kom [where he served as outsource executive] following allegations of corruption around a tender. He was found guilty and fired. This situation was a bomb just waiting to [explode]," the source says.

Another source, who was involved with arivia at the time, confirms the investigation took place, but declines to comment on the outcome, referring ITWeb to the state-owned entity.

No reference

Yesterday, arivia acting CEO Kiruben Pillay declined to confirm or deny these allegations, stating only that the company's "issues with Mnisi have been settled".

However, Pillay did reveal that arivia had not been contacted for a reference on Mnisi since his own secondment to the state-owned IT outsourcer in October 2006.

The LOC says Mnisi was appointed in the latter half of 2006, but could not be more specific.

Meanwhile, Tim Modise, spokesman for the 2010 LOC, says Mnisi had not disclosed this aspect of his employment history to him. However, he suggests the current disciplinary investigation being conducted into Mnisi's actions would be limited to the irregularities found by the LOC's forensic investigators.

Upon further questioning, Tumi Makgabo, the LOC's second spokesman, revealed that information of this nature "may, in fact, form part of an inquiry which looks into all aspects of an employee's employ".

HR bungle?

Questions are also being asked as to whether Mnisi's appointment is related to the allegations of hiring irregularities levelled against former LOC HR head Nomzamo Kasana.

Kasana faced disciplinary action for alleged incompetence and insubordination, but quit before the matter could be resolved by the LOC last year.

A source within the LOC reveals that, following Kasana's exit, staffers were called in and questioned on their appointment process.

Makgabo would not be drawn on whether there was a link between possible irregularities in Mnisi's appointment and Kasana.

ITWeb tried on several occasions this morning to contact LOC chairman Irvin Khoza, CEO Danny Jordaan and Mnisi. These attempts were unsuccessful.

Khoza has, however, said he wants the investigation into Mnisi's actions to be wrapped up as soon as possible.