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Row over jobs for people 'linked to ANC'

JOB-SEEKERS in Limpopo will remain jobless for as long as they are not affiliated to the ANC.

This perception stems from the establishment of a task team in the provincial department of health and social development to deal with the recruitment of staff.

MEC for health and social development Miriam Segabutla had allegedly issued instructions that recruitment should be done in regional offices of the department with the assistance of the team.

The vacant posts are that of clerks, administrative officers and auxiliary nurses.

But the move seems to have opened a can of worms after the team allegedly allowed ANC leaders of various branches to submit lists of people eligible for employment.

The list was to be forwarded to the regions.

Sowetan is in possession of the list submitted by ANC Tubatse sub-regional secretary Lemon Phala.

Phala allegedly only put ANC members in the list, including his wife, brother, sister and two cousins.

The list had allegedly been submitted, as final to panel chairperson Linah Maepa to conduct interviews.

Maepa is also a member of the ANC Youth League regional executive committee in the Sekhukhune region.

Of grave concern is that those appearing on the list are people from Motloulela, Phala's home village.

The job-seekers were allegedly interviewed and are waiting for letters of appointment this week. They are expected to start working any time from now.

The list also clearly indicates it came from Phala in his capacity as sub-regional secretary.

Approached for comment Phala confirmed he was sub-regional secretary but downplayed the matter, saying the list was handled by the region and not the sub-region.

"I cannot comment on matters of the region while I only serve in the sub-region," Phala said at the weekend.

But members of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were concerned that competent people had been overlooked when jobs were allocated because those responsible for the lists "had ulterior motives".

Maepa also denied knowledge of the job application list.

Department spokesperson Selby Makgotho said there were no preferred candidates for the posts and that they would investigate the matter and if there were any irregularities in the appointments.

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