PHIL Mohlahlane's sympathisers thought they could use the noise of the World Cup to sneak him back into a government job in Limpopo.

PHIL Mohlahlane's sympathisers thought they could use the noise of the World Cup to sneak him back into a government job in Limpopo.

The former Land Bank chief left the bank after accusations of money laundering and gross irregularities involving the Agre-BEE fund.

It is unpleasantly surprising that the man was then hired by the same department of Agriculture.

George Ntwampe, chairman of the new Limpopo Agribusiness Development Corporation, made a point of saying Mohlahlane had no criminal record. No other government department would have hired him with that cloud hanging over his head.

This new corporation also has a big operating fund just ripe for the picking.

Does he think the public is stupid enough to accept this explanation?

Provincial MEC for agriculture Letsatsi -Duba put a stop to his new ambitions. Mohlahlane was appointed while the minister was attending a conference in Slovenia.

This showed blatant disrespect for the MEC. They thought they could swing this shoddy trick and and present Mohlahlane's employment as a fait accompli when the MEC returned.

Letsatsi-Duba reacted immediately and Mohlahlane was forced to stop working while his appointment was investigated.

We welcome the MEC's action. It would also be prudent to investigate the board that hired a man with such dubious work and ethical standards.

It seems t some people think the public is gullible enough to forgive them everything.