The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] notes with serious concern the allegations of abuse of power and resources by the Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Advocate Doctor Mashabane.

The allegations are contained in an article by Sunday Times wherein its reported that the Director-General abused his power and resources of the department by taking three security guards at Kgosi Mampuru Prison as his personal bodyguards following his rejected request for protection by the South African Police Service.

The Director General is alleged to have irregularly used the Kgosi Mampuru prison security personnel at a ridiculous cost for his personal benefit with overtime claims ranging between R40 000 and R25 000 all at the expense of the department and the public purse. 

As NEHAWU, we find it totally unacceptable that much needed public resources continue to be abused and misused instead of being directed towards improving the socio-economic conditions of workers and our people. Workers at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development are confronted with challenges ranging from deteriorating conditions of service and significant number of unfilled funded vacant posts. 

Lastly, as NEHAWU, we view these allegations in serious light and believe that they cannot be ignored since they involve the accounting officer of the department. Hence, we are calling for an investigation into these allegations and the Director-General to be placed on suspension pending such an investigation.

In the meantime, the union will be undertaking an internal consultation with its members in the department on the impact of these allegations to their conditions of service and day to day work and get a mandate on the way forward.

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Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za