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The Director General of the Public Service Commission, Dovhani Mamphiswana, told Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday that Minister of Public Works Thulas Nxesi fell short of public service standards in his handling of the appointment of Boitumelo “Cox” Mokgoro to the department.
In terms of the appointment, Mokgoro served - and received salaries - for two posts, including as an advisor to the minister and to the Property Management Trading Entity.
He was seconded in 2015 as a suitable candidate from Honey Cloud Enterprises - where he served as a director.
The PSC, which monitors adherence to public service guidelines and investigates misconduct, told the oversight committee that this secondment was "irregular".
Not only was Mokgoro appointed as a special advisor to the public works minister, but he earned a seven figure salary and enjoyed consistent 7% salary increases, eventually driving his annual pay from his positions at the department to R2.2m.
Scopa earlier this year directed the PSC to investigate the appointment of Mokgoro and the contracting of his business Honey Cloud Enterprises.
Mamphiswana told the committee that Mokgoro's appointment also violated prescripts of the Public Service Act and the Public Finance Management Act.
"The approval by Minister of Public Works Mr TW Nxesi in respect of the secondment with effect from November 2015 is not in compliance with the following Constitutional values and principles enshrined in section 195 of the Constitution; a high standard of professional ethics, efficient and effective use of resources and public administration accountability," he said.
Mamphiswana told the committee that the investigation relied on information from the department and officials themselves. He said the secondment from the company was approved by, not one, but two public works ministers.
"Honey Cloud Enterprises was purchased in August 2015 as a shelf company, and the apparent utilisation of this entity as a vehicle through which Mokgoro was seconded with effect from November 2015 is regarded as an effort to circumvent the regulatory framework relating to secondments," he said.
Mamphiswana said there was no justification for awarding Mokgoro an upward adjustment higher than the cost of living. As a senior management service official, this contravened various prescripts.
Nxesi, also present at the meeting, said he would reserve his comment until he had seen the final report. It is understood that Mokgoro is still employed by the department.
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