Underfire department head hits back with suspensions

Just days after being berated by her MEC for allegedly not properly doing her job, sport, recreation, arts and culture department head Nomathamsanqa Gobozi-Nibe has acted with speed against some senior officials who might have placed her on a collision course with her political boss. This as moves are afoot to suspend three senior department officials, two of them for allegedly failing to provide adequate input needed by their MEC, Sibulele Ngongo, to account before the Bhisho legislature. The submission addressing the legislature’s resolutions on the department’s operations was due on December 12 2025.

The two under fire officials are also facing internal charges for allegedly failing to contribute their solicited input towards the formulation of Ngongo’s upcoming policy speech, by the January 23 deadline, “thereby compromising the department’s planning, co-ordination and accountability obligations”. The Dispatch has seen letters signed by Gobozi-Nibe, dated January 28 and 29, to the three officials. Two of the three are also charged for serious misconduct relating to irregularities related to the Saba Mbixane Maskandi festival held at KwaBhaca in December, where some artists were not paid.

They include a director, a chief director and an acting chief director. While two of them could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, and thus cannot be named, one of the officials refused to comment. She instead referred questions to her legal representative, who confirmed plans to institute a court challenge.

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“Her acting appointment was immediately withdrawn unlawfully and without following correct and due procedures, and we are embarking on an urgent court application to remedy such conduct by the department,” the attorney said. The department on Tuesday also shied away from commenting, with department spokesperson Andile Nduna saying it would be inappropriate to do so. In the letters of intent, the department made it clear that this did not constitute a finding of guilt but merely served as an intention to consider disciplinary action.

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