Letter to the DG Public Service Commission re Dr Mazwai conflict of interest

29th November 2016 

Public Service Commission

Director-General:

Dr Dovhani Mamphiswana

RE: Request to investigate conflict of interest

Dear Dr Mamphiswana

In replies to our DA Parliamentary Questions, the Minister of Small Business, Lindiwe Zulu, revealed that she allowed her department to pay R22 million to Mtiya Dynamics, a company in which her department advisor, Dr Thami Mazwai, owns 40% of the shares.

We wrote to the Minister on the 9^th Nov 2016, requesting that she either terminate Dr Mazwai's contract with immediate effect or instruct Dr Mazwai to dispose of his shares immediately. We also requested a copy of his employment contract.

We have had no response from the Minister to our letter to date.

Last year Dr Mazwai joined the Department of Small Business Development on what is no doubt a lucrative contract, shortly after his company Mtiya Dynamics was given the contract to manage the National Gazelles Programme.

Government employees in DA-controlled departments, metros and municipalities are barred from doing business with the state and a conflict of interest is an offence according to the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004.

I would like to request that you investigate this conflict of interest as soon as possible

I look forward to hearing from you swiftly

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Best regards,

Toby Chance

DA Shadow Minister for Small Business Development

Democratic Alliance

Cell: 083 251 5613            

Preferred mail: toby@tobychance.com