11 Apr 2018

Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen says abuse of office is not allowed in the public service in accordance with government statutes that regulate the service.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said his ministry was not aware of any abuse of office by any senior veterinary officers against gatekeepers which allegedly happened sometime in 1992.

He said the concerned employee worked for the Department of Animal Health and Production in the 1990s as a fence erector.

The minister said their records indicated that the employee absented himself from duty without leave or permission from September 7, 1992 to August 14, 1995 which resulted in no work no pay principle being applied.
 

He said due to medical reasons, he was on August 15,1995 redeployed from fence erector to gatekeeper based in Mokomojenaa Gate until he retired from the public service on January 31, 2006.

He added that records did not indicate that the retired employee ever appealed the decision of his ministry, and therefore no money would be paid to the employee as he refused to be offered a light duty job as a gatekeeper following recommendation from a medical doctor.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said instead he insisted on being paid compensation as he claimed that he was unable to work which was inconsistent with the medical doctor’s recommendation, and that the ministry’s records showed that he was not owed any money.

Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the minister if he was aware of the abuse of office by veterinary senior officers against gatekeepers which happened sometimes in 1992 and of the retired gatekeeper in Mmatshumo who was suspended without pay from 1992 to 1995, and was later reinstated in 1995 until he retired.

Mr Lelatisitswe also asked the minister if the said officer, after appealing his case, was to be paid for the length of time he was suspended.

He also wanted to how much the officer was owed and when he would paid. Ends