The EFF has dragged the DA leader and Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, to parliament’s ethics committee for allegedly lying about appointing unqualified individuals in his office.
The four employees, who are said to be unqualified, have taken up positions as advisors and members of staff.
The EFF is insisting that Steenhuisen blatantly lied when asked if he followed the usual recruitment rules for advisors and staff by hiring four people who did not meet the education or experience requirements; he replied in the negative.
Makashule Gana, the Rise Mzansi MP, had asked the Public Service and Administration Minister, Mzamo Buthelezi, about ministers who asked for deviations of the Public Service Act so they could hire candidates who did not meet the minimum job requirements.
In response, Buthelezi revealed that Steenhuisen had forwarded four requests for appointments in his office.
He also clarified that three of these requests were declined on the basis that the candidates did not have required qualifications, while another person did not have enough work experience.
Hampering the efficiency of the department
The red berets highlighted that this move has proven that Steenhuisen was unfit to be a minister for undermining the rule of law.
Leigh-Ann Mathys, EFF spokesperson, said Steenhuisen has been trying to keep such a matter under the carpet, whereas four unqualified individuals earned an income from his office for three months.
This while waiting for the Department of Public Service and Administration to legitimise their appointments.
Mathys stated that if Steenhuisen had any honesty, integrity, or respect for the rule of law, he would have been open about the fact that there are people in his office who do not meet the standard norms and practices for government appointments or the minimum qualifications required by the Public Services Act.
She believes that Steenhuisen should have also indicated that he was in the process of securing a deviation for their appointment.
“In addition to his lies, Steenhuisen is already hampering the efficiency of the department as a result of his appointment of a racist and right-winger as his chief of staff, who now refuses to resign and draws a salary from taxpayers money while ostensibly doing no work,” said Mathys.
