We worked abnormal hours under Mkhwebane – executive manager tells Parliament

Dennis TSeptember 10, 2022

27 1 minute read

Another witness who works for the public protector’s office has also painted Busisiwe Mkhwebane as a dictator who ruled the office with an iron fist.

Nthoriseng Motsitsi, an executive manager of Complaints & Stakeholder management, testified on Friday during the inquiry into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office. Motsitsi was among a witnesses who told MPs that Mkhwebane had unreasonable expectations and most employees feared her.

“The Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) is the harshest environment I have ever worked in. There was distrust amongst staff members, uncertainty and insecurity, fear and increased applications for sick leave by staff members. Working hours were abnormally long.

“Under the public protector, we had to work very long hours. We would often work late into the night, or into the early hours of the morning. We would also regularly work on weekends,” Motsitsi said in her affidavit.

She said that executive managers were encouraged not to take leave. She described an encounter where Mkhwebane had taken leave during the festive season and when she returned, she told staff that reducing backlog was the highest priority and they should not take leave.

However, Motsitsi said she allowed employees reporting to her to take leave and she remained in the office and put in leave for January instead. Her leave was denied, so she applied for leave in April and that too was denied.

She then opted to take early retirement as her health was deteriorating. I was exhausted,” she said.

Source: IOL