A former chief financial officer (CFO) who left the KwaZulu-Natal department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (CoGTA) under a cloud earlier this year is set to score another top state job in the province.
Yali Joyi, who resigned from the department in January, is set to score another lucrative finance gig at the province’s education department, which is led by ANC’s MEC Sipho Hlomuka.
After being suspended for alleged procurement corruption in the run-up to the 2024 general elections, Joyi resigned from her previous employer while the ANC was ruling the province.
When the government of provincial unity, which includes the IFP, the DA, the ANC, and the National Freedom Party, took over, Joyi and two other senior officials were probed and later suspended in September 2024 after prima facie evidence of wrongdoing emerged.
A few months later, Joyi resigned, stating that her departure was not an admission of guilt but a necessary action due to the negative impact the matter was having on her health.
“This communication serves to advise that I hereby tender my resignation from the department with immediate effect,” Joyi wrote in her letter of resignation.
“Please take note that my decision to resign must not in any way be misconstrued as an admission of any of the allegations which have been levelled against me and that I have made it purely out of expediency, having regard to the negative toll and effect that this matter is having on my health as well as my family.”
Despite this, she is now poised to land a role in the education department, which is facing a crippling financial crisis and a litany of allegations of corruption by senior staff members.
Right to withdraw appointment
The offer to hire Joyi, although not yet finalised, is contained in a letter dated May 7 that was signed by Hlomuka and that Sunday World has seen.
“This letter must be presented to Mr GN Ngcobo, who will facilitate your assumption of duty. It must, however, be noted that your appointment will only be processed upon receipt of the documents referred to in this letter.
“Thereafter you will be issued with a letter of appointment reflecting your salary particulars as well as other pertinent aspects relating to your conditions of service.
“Your appointment, in accordance with the particulars reflected in this letter, is without prejudice. The department reserves the right to withdraw/withhold your appointment to the abovementioned post should it be found that: (a) You do not meet the requirements for the post;
(b) Your application was based on incorrect information; (c) A dispute/grievance has been lodged against the post; or (d) You failed to assume duties in your new post without authorisation,” reads the letter obtained by the Sunday World.
The department has not provided a response to Sunday World’s enquiries about why it disregarded Joyi’s departure from her previous employment under dubious circumstances and her subsequent failure to clear her name.
The department’s response will be included in the story once received.
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