Minister creates and fills extra DG-level post without advert

Position allegedly designed for a specific candidate

- By Setumo Stone

Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth approved the creation of an additional director-general-level post and simultaneously appointed senior official Jacqueline Molisane without following a public recruitment process.

This amid allegations that Molisane did not qualify for the permanent position and that the extra post was created solely to enable her selection.

The allegations are contained in an anonymous complaint submitted to the Office of the Public Protector. The office confirmed receipt of the complaint in a letter dated May 18 and said it would assess whether the matter fell within its mandate.

The complainant says Molisane was seconded from the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) in the Presidency around April 2025, to act as director-general while the Department of Employment and Labour searched for a permanent head.

It is unclear whether ‘‘the necessary competencies and experience required for the position were fully assessed’’ when she was seconded.

The interviews for the permanent post were conducted around November and December 2025 and Molisane was among the candidates interviewed.