Daily Maverick reports that following its report earlier this month on the questionable credentials of Department of Social Development (DSD) Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s new Chief of Staff, Lesedi Mabiletja, she has been quietly replaced in her position.

This was indicated in a memo sent to DSD staff on 23 September, which also announced the replacement of the department spokesperson, after just three weeks in the job. The memo did not give any reason for Mabiletja’s removal. The moves are said to suggest a ministry, arguably one of the most important in the country, in something close to internal chaos. The department was previously warned by HR that Mabiletja did not even meet the requirements to be appointed as the minister’s secretary, let alone chief of staff. But Minister Tolashe nonetheless chose to appoint Mabiletja, a 22-year-old with virtually nothing in the way of professional experience, to a senior leadership post with an annual salary of around R1,4-million.

Mabiletja is apparently the niece of Tolashe’s favoured special advisor, Ngwako Kgatla, who has yet to face disciplinary charges relating to a previous episode, where he was allegedly receiving two government salaries simultaneously without disclosing. Mabiletja remains in the employ of the DSD, having been returned to the position she previously held as Tolashe’s private secretary. The same internal memo also announced the removal as department spokesperson of Nomfundo Xulu-Lentsoane, who had been serving in the role for only three weeks, following the suspension of previous spokesperson Lumka Oliphant. The memo also gave no reason for the removal of Xulu-Lentsoane,

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rebecca Davis at Daily Maverick

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