Director-general Rosey Sekese is the latest senior official at the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) to be suspended pending an investigation by the Public Service Commission.
Sekese's 60-day suspension follows a bout of exits by senior officials at the DTPS - over the last six months, the DTPS has let go of three deputy director-generals (DDGs).
Sekese was appointed DG of the erstwhile Department of Communications in June 2011.
Last month, DDG Sam Vilakazi left the DTPS to take up a senior role at a state-owned company in the telecoms space. The DDG for ICT policy and strategy Themba Phiri, and DDG for international affairs Gift Buthelezi, were both given the axe by the director-general.
All three DDGs have been involved in internal disciplinary hearings regarding the controversial awarding of a R756 million tender to Media Corner, which is being probed by the Special Investigating Unit.
ICT analyst Adrian Schofield says too many senior officials and executives in government and state-owned enterprises are being suspended pending investigation, indicative of government's failure to appoint capable managers in these critical positions.
"The department needs to appoint a DG who is thoroughly knowledgeable about the role of the ICT sector in the future development of the country, [and] has the trust of the minister and the presidency," says Schofield.
Richard Hurst, ICT analyst at Ovum, says Sekese's suspension will only serve to stall any policy-making, as projects will go on hold while the disciplinary process is under way.
The dysfunction at the department has resulted in many urgent policy developments stagnating and has had a profound impact on the development of the ICT sector in SA, Hurst explains.
"The suspension is an opportunity to change the upper management of the DTPS and inject some much-needed new blood. Given the current lack of traction in the department, clearly positive change is needed and this will probably imply a change in leadership."
Minister under pressure
Last week, minister Siyabonga Cwele appointed the Public Service Commission (PSC) to conduct an independent investigation into his department.
The PSC is probing the ongoing leadership challenges within the department and how they are hindering its ability to execute functions timeously.
As part of the investigation, Sekese was given 72 hours to provide reasons why she should not be placed on precautionary suspension, while the PSC conducts its investigation. Her suspension comes after she submitted written representations to the minister.
Schofield says the department lacks the firm guidance of a good leader.
"No minister wants to be seen to lead a failing department and the blame will inevitably fall on the senior official in charge of the department," notes Schofield. "In spite of her apparently suitable credentials, Rosey Sekese has not built a functional team at DTPS and therefore should make way for someone who can.
"Many of its processes fail to achieve the stated objectives because the staff are more concerned with internal politics and rivalries than with delivering the policies and implementation that SA desperately needs."
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