ADVOCATES FOR JACQUES MODIPANE

ADVOCATES FOR JACQUES MODIPANE

BY BRIAN KAJENGO

As political interference by Mpumalanga’s Finance, Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT) MEC Eric Kholwane, in the operational affairs of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) continues to escalate, the DA has reliably been informed that the entities instability is about to get worse as efforts to sack MTPA CEO Jacques Modipane within the next two weeks are at an advanced stage.

Sacking Modipane will have a devastating impact on this recovering entity, which has been plagued by factionalism and internal instability for many years. Not only will the leadership instability in this entity deteriorate further, but if sacked, Modipane will be entitled to have his contract as CEO paid out in a golden handshake. Given the MTPA’s financial challenges they simply cannot afford to have another CEO sacked with a golden handshake, only to replace him with another CEO who is better aligned to the dominant faction within the Provincial Government.

Despite facing numerous challenges and definitely not without fault, Modipane has worked tirelessly to turn the entity around and bring about stability and progress to the MTPA. The sacking of Modipane be avoided at all cost.

According to DA sources it would appear that the intention to sack Modipane stems from differences surrounding the explicit instruction issued by MEC Kholwane, to re-instate the former Chief Operating Officer (COO) Edward Thwala, and that he be paid all monies and benefits ‘due to him’ since the termination of his employment in April 2014 – an amount rumoured to be close to half a million rand. Thwala’s sudden reinstatement has caused great rifts within the MTPA.

In addition the MEC has issued a bizarre instruction, that while Thwala be reinstated as an MTPA employee, and retain all benefits, he will be seconded to the Department of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism to help with the ‘setting up and enhancing the Tourism division in the Department’.

This decision is wrong in all ways and raises serious questions, namely:

·         Why is MEC Kholwane hell-bent on reinstating Thwala at all, given that Thwala’s contract with the MTPA had legally come to an end?

·         Why must the already financially strained MTPA foot the bill for an official to be seconded to the department?

·         Why is the department ‘setting up and enhancing’ a tourism division within the department when Tourism is an explicit mandate of the MTPA?

It is clear that MEC Kholwane is using his political authority to protect a well-connected comrade, while at the same time destabilising the fragile MTPA.

The instability within the MTPA reflected in documents in the DA’s possession, detailing correspondence between CEO BJ Modipane and Edward Thwala, between former MEC Phosa and board chairperson Clara Ndlovu who later dismissed and then replaced by a Mr VF Mlombo. In these documents Mr Thwala unambiguously informed that his role as COO at the MTPA no longer exists and his contract not renewed, the board informed by MEC Phosa not to interfere in the management of expiring contracts, and that CEO Modipane will manage all employee contracts.

In April this year, the former board attempted to place Modipane on special leave, using the theft of the Rhino horn stockpile as the guise, while attempting to protect Mr Thwala. In turn MEC Phosa rescinded the decision of the board, and later dismissed Ndlovu as the board chairperson.

On 5 September, the DA welcomed the appointment of former legislature speaker William Lubisi’s appointment as chairperson of the MTPA board, optimistic that his leadership experience will contribute to stabilising the MTPA, enabling it to recover from years of chaos. Our optimism seems to be short lived by MEC Kholwane’s obsession to interfere in the MTPA. It waits seen if the Lubisi has the muscle to keep MEC Kholwane at bay, while at the same time nursing the MTPA back to health.

As long as MEC Kholwane interferes in the administrative and operational affairs of the MTPA, and as long as position mongering and financial self-gain characterises the MTPA senior leadership, conservation and tourism protection and advancement will not occupy its rightful place at the centre of the MTPA’s existence.

The DA has already submitted questions for oral reply to Premier Mabuza questioning him about these disturbing happenings at the MTPA. His responses and reaction to the behaviour of the MEC and the state of the MTPA will be key in determining the long-term future and sustainability of this entity. The DA will also call on the Premier to intervene in the deteriorating affairs of the MTPA and to ensure that Modipane retained as CEO.

We will submit further questions to MEC Kholwane requesting him to justify his instructed re-instatement of Thwala, Thwala’s secondment to the department and the logic of establishing a tourism division within the department.