MINISTER of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo has registered his discontent with the alleged conduct of his Principal Secretary, Naniki Mnisi, with Secretary to Cabinet, Victor Nxumalo, in what appears to be a deepening rift between the two senior officials.
This was confirmed by the secretary to Cabinet who, however, mentioned that the report was not formal or written. He was responding to questions on whether the minister or PS had formally reported any issues to his office, and if his office had made any interventions on the matter following numerous public displays of tension between the two.
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According to the secretary to cabinet, although nothing formal was brought to his office, the minister had mentioned to him that he was displeased with Mnisi’s conduct. Nxumalo said the minister registered this concern a few weeks ago, and that he had intended to engage the PS to get her side of the story on the matter.
“However, I learned that the PS was out of the country at the time the matter was reported. Nonetheless, I am still to engage her because these are relations issues,” emphasised Nxumalo.
The cracks in the relations between the minister and the PS first showed in August after this publication reported that the former had granted Baha’i schools permission to be private. The issue had taken about two years after the school applied for privatisation from the ministry.
A day after the story was published, the PS came out to state that she had been blindsided in the matter as she read about the development in the media.
Mnisi also stated that statute only bestowed the authority to oversee the issue on her and not the minister.
As such, she said the permission that had been granted by the ministry was null and void. Even so, the minister insisted that his word was final on the issue.
This matter is currently pending at the High Court as Baha’is took some officials from the ministry for allegedly obstructing the privatisation process despite the ministerial directive.
Again, it was reported that during the recent COSSASA games at Somhlolo National Stadium. Mnisi recounted how the minister allegedly chastised her in full view of Their Majesties, members of the royal family, SADC delegates, and other cabinet colleagues.
Sources claimed there was another public spectacle during another public event that was held at the Happy Valley Hotel last week, and the recent incident happened at Sifundzani High School where the minister reportedly publicly refused to be introduced by the PS, which she later mentioned was not an isolate case, but was part of a pattern of public humiliation she had suffered at the hands of the minister.
Speaking to this publication yesterday, Mnisi said while there was a lot she could say on the matter, she would only state that the treatment she had suffered was a result of her resolve to protect government policies. She said in the Baha’i issue, she was also protecting the interests of the learners at large.
“I cannot entertain any deviation from government policies, more so because as PS I am expected to account to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the prime minister,” she said.
When asked whether she had reported the impasse to the secretary to Cabinet, Mnisi said she had not, primarily because she felt that the issues would sort themselves out and that she had forgiven the minister for the unbecoming treatment.
“It’s only been three months since I was appointed into this position and I cannot always report my challenges. Besides, I have acted in the same position before and the treatment wasn’t different,” said Mnisi, adding that she was still determined to not disappoint the appointing authority.
“I have been in this position for only three months, so I can’t be worn-out already, especially since I had been an under secretary for 16 years,” she stated.
Additionally, the PS said another reason that she had not reported the issues, especially the Baha’i matter to either the secretary to Cabinet or prime minister, was that it was still being deliberated on at the High Court.
“However, if I’m asked to engage on the matter I’ll gladly do so,” Mnisi said. Further, she mentioned that the friction between her and the minister created division and confusion among workers in the ministry. “I usually ask them that abangasilekeleli kushisa indlu (they should not help us burn the house down because they might have to live in that house long after we have left). They are professionals and should behave as such,” said Mnisi.
She ended by saying she hoped that the minister could recover soon, and that she was optimistic that everything will be okay.
Efforts to get the minister’s side of the story proved futile as he declined to comment.
“I don’t wish to say anything on this matter, so may you stop asking me questions about it,” said the minister briefly.
Minister, PS summoned by Liqoqo again
THE minister of education and training and the principal secretary were last week summoned by Liqoqo for the second time.
Although details on the agenda could not be immediately ascertained, sources claimed that the subject of discussion was the privatisation of the Baha’i schools. This was the second time since the minister issued the letter granting the school authority to be private and not government-aided.
When the PS was asked about this she conceded, but said she could not divulge further details.
“Liqoqo lifana naka gogo lakuyalwana khona. That’s all I can say,” stated Mnisi.
Likewise, Liqoqo Chairman Paul Dlamini said although the two senior government officials were before the council, he could not delve much into why they were called there, more so because the matter (Baha’i privatisation) was still pending in court.
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