Dept in 'sex for jobs' scandal

2010-06-24 22:39


Durban in a Word


Durban - KwaZulu-Natal transport department employees have written statements alleging some department bosses demanded sex before giving them jobs, a trade union says.

The regional secretary of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), Khaye Nkwanyana, said: "There were witnesses that wanted to testify that they had to sleep with people before getting a job.

"We also have written statements from people who were victims of this. Some of these people were married.”

The Isolezwe newspaper reported on Thursday that some employees allegedly had sex with top managers for promotions. The paper alleged a senior manager was involved.

Transport department spokesperson Lungile Ndlovu said an investigation was on the go.

Provincial transport MEC Willies Mchunu had not received a report back yet.

Sexual harassment

Ndlovu said: “There was a manager doing communication support that was suspended based on allegations of sexual harassment.

"He was reinstated after the complainants dropped the charges last year,” Ndlovu said.

Nkwanyana said Nehawu had called for KwaZulu-Natal transport department head, Chris Hlabisa, to be suspended over allegations of corruption and nepotism.

“In August last year when Mchunu was appointed the new MEC, we approached him about our concerns and he appointed an investigation team to investigate the allegations,” said Nkwanyana.

Transport department employees went on strike in February in a protest against Hlabisa. They alleged that he was corrupt and also questioned his leadership style.

The strike was intended to put pressure on Mchunu to complete the investigation, as it was supposed to have been completed last year.

The employees' statements about sexual harassment would form part of the ongoing investigation, said Nkwanyana.

- SAPA

Read more on: transport | durban | nehawu

Comments by Sonny

This will become a CCMA nightmare if unleashed!