Public Protector finds maladministration in appointment of Sedibeng assistant manager

By Thapelo Molefe

The Public Protector has found that the Sedibeng District Municipality appointed Maria Mokoena as Assistant Manager: Licensing, even though she did not meet the minimum requirements for the advertised post.

The watchdog concluded that the recruitment process was flawed and amounted to “maladministration”.

The investigation followed a complaint lodged by Jack Mokalapa, who alleged that Mokoena’s appointment did not comply with municipal recruitment prescripts.

According to the Public Protector’s report, the municipality advertised the post in July 2021, requiring applicants to have Grade 12 plus a three-year degree or National Diploma in Licensing. But Mokoena did not possess a qualification that met this requirement at the time of her appointment.

The investigation found that the recruitment process was characterised by “serious procedural failures and a disregard for established recruitment prescripts”.  

This included a failure to properly verify candidates’ qualifications, inadequate scrutiny of CVs to determine whether