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AT HOME: Suspended North West education acting superintendent-general Abe Seakamela

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Abe Seakamela, acting superintendent-general in the department , was served with the precautionary suspension letter on Thursday at his home while on sick leave, the department said.

Sowetan exposed allegations of nepotism against Seakamela and his wife, Mphoentle Mogotsi-Seakamela, in July.

The allegations included that Mogotsi-Seakamela's salary ballooned to R454356 from the R92190 she earned as a teacher since she was appointed, apparently by Seakamela, first as a deputy chief education specialist and later as his personal assistant in 2005.

Sowetan has seen a report of a probe into the department's human resources division commissioned by former MEC Raymond Elisha.

The report states that "there are numerous adjustments to her [Mogotsi-Seakamela] salary which were extraordinary", but concedes that "the unavailability of documents imposes limitations on the investigation".

Seakamela dismissed the allegations as "a witch-hunt".

"All matters relating to salary adjustments and other remuneration were in accordance with the prescripts of the law," he said.

Seakamela further said Mogotsi-Seakamela applied, was shortlisted, interviewed and appointed in the position of deputy chief education specialist and later that of his personal assistant.

He also said that they were not married when she was appointed in these positions.

He said when they married in January 2009 he immediately informed his supervisor.

Seakamela said: "Since the matter was investigated internally in 2005 and externally by the then MEC [Johannes Tselapedi] for education, the external investigation report was submitted to the office of the public protector, who laid the matter to rest."

Spokesman for the public protector Kgalalelo Masibi said their investigation was suspended when the department commissioned an independent forensic investigation and the public protector is studying the report.

Sowetan has learnt that Seakamela moved his wife to another directorate after the newspaper's report.

MEC for education Louisa Mabe said on Friday: "Instead of giving me the opportunity to deal with the matter, he [Seakamela] then transferred his wife to another position that would further benefit her and this was done without my approval.

"I was forced to reverse the decision."

Early last week, the department served Seakamela with a letter requesting that he give reasons within 48 hours why he should not be suspended.

Seakamela instead submitted a letter from his psychiatrist, department spokes-woman Bayanda Zenzile said, and the notice of suspension was then served.

Mabe has appointed Dr Itumeleng Molale the new acting head of department. - tshehleb@sowetan.co.za

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Thu Jun 20 07:38:05 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 4, 2012

candilious

Ja nee ................and tommorow SA will declare bankrupcy
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Sep 4, 2012

LAC

Clearly something is wrong, why did he hand in a doctor's certificate, why not face the music. NEPOTISM
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Sep 4, 2012

MGEEZ

And about time that the ANC does something about these incompetent corrupt cadres!!!
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Sep 4, 2012

Flemza

Other people they never learn , so this dude decided to bring his bedroom politics to work , whats wrong with other people , now he is suspended , just because of a punana , if your wife doesn`t want to educate herself and become competetive in this modern economic world , let her be a house wife , my wife is completing her MBA in 2014 ,
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Sep 4, 2012

MommaC

If the NW education department was actually functional, this wouldn't be half as insulting as it is. The fact that the schooling system in NW is a disgrace just adds insult to injury
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Sep 4, 2012

Pointman

When nothing was done after he appointed his wife, he continued took one more liberty and then another and then another. The poor guy did not understand there is limit to how much you can milk the taxpayers.
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Sep 4, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

The priscripts of the Law, I must say by just looking at that picture one can see that on a very good day this official is k@k corrupt. This sydrome of our time to eat must come to an end we need to get rid of "the modern comrade" within the movement we are running the country down. How can a teacher be appointed a specialist without a PHD?????
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Sep 4, 2012

Mosquer

Sometimes we say there is no jobs, but only to find that they(jobs) are given to wrong people. Nowadays it's tough to get a job if you don't have relative or friend in a company
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Sep 4, 2012

Kgaoza606

Next they're gonna hire their unqualified children hey, welcome to our darling ANC led government. This is just an an example of how our government is run all over the country, is happenin everywhere, cadre deployment always gives birth to nepotism, a friend of a friend of mine was just appointed Chief Finance Officer about two months ago, and the guy doesn't even know the basic accounting principle ya Assets= Owners Equity + Liabilities... That's our government...
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Sep 4, 2012

MommaC

Printa

Try bathing and getting rid of your infection - smell cleans right up
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