THE image of our parastatals is in an appalling state. We have recently been bombarded by mass resignations of board members at SAA and finally its CEO, Siza Mzimela.
The woes of the SABC's top management have become the media's daily bread.
The story about the new CEO of the SA Post Office Chris Hlekane, who hired a top manager being investigated for corruption, is a huge blow to the image of our parastatals.
Miyelani Holeni, a former municipal manager at the Ekurhuleni municipality, is being probed for corruption related to the installation of water meters amounting to millions of rands and was suspended by the municipality in July after a recommendation by the Special Investigations Unit.
How did Hlekane see it fit to head-hunt and appoint Holeni with this big cloud hanging over him? As a manager in the CEO's office, Holeni is one of the top accounting officers in Sapo. Surely the basic recruitment criteria to hire a person to such an important position should have been ascertained.
When contacted by Sowetan about Holeni's background, it was clear the Post Office had failed miserably in its hiring processes. Had they done that, a simple Google check on Holeni could have told them about this pending case against him.
It is difficult to believe that Hlekane, the new Post Office CEO, whose broom is expected to sweep cleaner to restore confidence in Sapo after their tainted image relating to a R425-million lease scandal, simply failed to see the pile of dirt that was before him.
The appointment of Holeni without even advertising the position smacks of incompetence and sinks the image of the Sapo, which is integral to delivering vital services to our communities, to a new low.
Instead of blaming himself for this vital oversight and his HR office for incompetence, Hlekane incredulously blames Holeni's misrepresentation of facts at his interviews.
To indicate the kind of leadership he is bringing to Sapo, Hlekane should insist that heads must roll and also take part of the blame.
Sapo has declared they are in the process of terminating Holeni's contract after hiring him for only two days.
For all we know, Holeni's dismissal could be accompanied by some golden handshake.
It is these kinds of actions that make parastatals to be viewed as corruption riddled institutions that are prone to large-scale looting.
Sapo is in a real mess
THE image of our parastatals is in an appalling state. We have recently been bombarded by mass resignations of board members at SAA and finally its CEO, Siza Mzimela.
The woes of the SABC's top management have become the media's daily bread.
The story about the new CEO of the SA Post Office Chris Hlekane, who hired a top manager being investigated for corruption, is a huge blow to the image of our parastatals.
Miyelani Holeni, a former municipal manager at the Ekurhuleni municipality, is being probed for corruption related to the installation of water meters amounting to millions of rands and was suspended by the municipality in July after a recommendation by the Special Investigations Unit.
How did Hlekane see it fit to head-hunt and appoint Holeni with this big cloud hanging over him? As a manager in the CEO's office, Holeni is one of the top accounting officers in Sapo. Surely the basic recruitment criteria to hire a person to such an important position should have been ascertained.
When contacted by Sowetan about Holeni's background, it was clear the Post Office had failed miserably in its hiring processes. Had they done that, a simple Google check on Holeni could have told them about this pending case against him.
It is difficult to believe that Hlekane, the new Post Office CEO, whose broom is expected to sweep cleaner to restore confidence in Sapo after their tainted image relating to a R425-million lease scandal, simply failed to see the pile of dirt that was before him.
The appointment of Holeni without even advertising the position smacks of incompetence and sinks the image of the Sapo, which is integral to delivering vital services to our communities, to a new low.
Instead of blaming himself for this vital oversight and his HR office for incompetence, Hlekane incredulously blames Holeni's misrepresentation of facts at his interviews.
To indicate the kind of leadership he is bringing to Sapo, Hlekane should insist that heads must roll and also take part of the blame.
Sapo has declared they are in the process of terminating Holeni's contract after hiring him for only two days.
For all we know, Holeni's dismissal could be accompanied by some golden handshake.
It is these kinds of actions that make parastatals to be viewed as corruption riddled institutions that are prone to large-scale looting.
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