Being regularly absent from work without authorisation is but one of the reasons Limakatso Mahasa, Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, has been placed on special leave.
In a statement issued on Friday, 17 May, Premier Mxolisi Dukwana confirmed Mahasa’s special leave effective on Wednesday, 15 May, following a meeting that was held on 9 May.
Mahasa was one of the six women serving on the Dukwana-led cabinet.
Mahasa’s placing on special leave came just days ahead of both the provincial and national cabinet’s term officially ending with the general and provincial elections taking place on 29 May.
Dukwana confirmed Makalo Mohale as the acting MEC for the remainder of the term.
Mohale serves as the MEC for Education, having taken over from the late Tate Makgoe, who died in March last year.
Dukwana said arising from the discussion of a meeting with Mahasa, her alleged regular absenteeism from work was adverse, “and it became clear that the MEC’s regular absence was causing a huge leadership gap in the department”.
“Furthermore, the failure of the Thaba Nchu Freedom Day event on 4 May, which brought the department, and by extension, the Free State Provincial Government (FSPG) into disrepute, is another case in point,” said Dukwana.
The premier stated that further to Mahasa being placed on special leave, a written representation has been requested from Steve Tshabalala, the head of the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
The request seeks what transpired regarding the Freedom Day event, as well as an explanation from Tshabalala why he too should not be placed on a special leave for failure to perform his duties diligently, as the accounting officer following the blunder of the event that is in question.
Mahasa’s term as MEC began in 2016 under former Premier Ace Magashule.
She had been appointed as the new MEC for Social Development.
