Minister Macpherson rejects NEHAWU’S blatant attempt to capture the Department’s recruitment process during Portfolio Committee meeting
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, rejects attempts by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) to capture and control the Department’s recruitment processes. This follows a presentation by the union to the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure on Wednesday morning—attended by the Deputy Minister, the Director-General, and senior officials of the Department—in which NEHAWU, in no uncertain terms, demanded to be included in the recruitment processes of all senior managers.
The union’s demands included having sight of and signing off on all advertisements for senior posts, participating in the shortlisting of candidates, and involvement in the interview process itself. Despite these demands, the Portfolio Committee entertained the union’s submission at the eleventh hour. The committee’s agenda was hastily amended on Tuesday evening to include NEHAWU’s submission—an action that directly contravened a resolution by the committee and its chairperson that all agenda items must be circulated to members by the Friday preceding the Wednesday meeting. The Minister described this as a clear double standard that raises the impression of collusion between NEHAWU and members of the Portfolio Committee, including the chairperson.
“Senior management recruitment is a Cabinet-led process, which is top secret and confidential. It is NEHAWU that should be made to account for how it came into possession of these classified state documents. I want to caution NEHAWU that the operation of the Department rests solely with myself and the Director-General. If these abuses and unlawful conduct persist—in apparent collusion with the Portfolio Committee—I will consider our legal options to ensure that the Department and its hard-working officials are protected,” Minister Macpherson said.
“It is simply unfathomable that a trade union is attempting to implant itself into the recruitment of qualified individuals to senior posts at a time when the Department is urgently addressing a critical skills shortage. The union’s rejection of the requirement that appointments be made on merit, and its claim that this is unlawful, stands in stark contrast to the fact that their attempt to hijack the recruitment process is in direct violation of the Public Service Act. These tactics are nothing short of predatory.”
The Minister further expressed concern that, during the committee meeting, NEHAWU raised issues relating to unsigned leases between the Department and private sector landlords—matters which fall outside the union’s mandate. This development follows the Minister’s instruction last year for the Department and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the ten highest-value leases, after concerns were raised about possible corruption and abuse.
“As a trade union whose primary role is to represent employees, it is unclear why NEHAWU would seek to involve itself in the Department’s leasing operations. Their conduct is particularly troubling, given that I specifically requested these leases be investigated due to suspicions of inflated costs and corruption. I will not allow NEHAWU to serve as a proxy for unscrupulous landlords who are now seeing their taps turned off. The era of unaccountability in this Department is over. I remain resolute in my commitment to eradicate abuse and corruption wherever it may surface.”
Enquiries:
James de Villiers Spokesperson to the Minister
E-mail: james.devilliers@dpw.gov.za
Cell: 082 766 0276
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