ActionSA Member of Parliament
Opposition party ActionSA has launched a scathing attack on the Limpopo Department of Public Works and Infrastructure following allegations that public service jobs are being awarded based on political loyalty rather than merit.
The controversy follows the recent hiring of 140 workers by the department under MEC Tony Rachuene. Images circulating online show official appointment letters being handed to new staff alongside congratulatory messages from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) celebrating its “comrades” on their appointments.
In a press statement issued on August 6, ActionSA Member of Parliament Malebo Kobe condemned the developments, stating that public sector employment must not serve as a reward system for party loyalists.
“The state does not belong to the ANC, nor should public employment be treated as a reward for party allegiance or loyalty,” Kobe said. “While government has presented the appointment of 140 workers as a step towards building a capable and ethical state, the accompanying political celebration tells an entirely different story.”
Kobe expressed concern over the message these actions send to millions of qualified, unemployed South Africans—particularly young graduates in Limpopo and across the country who struggle to secure employment despite their qualifications.
Call for National Investigation
ActionSA has formally called on the national Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, to institute an immediate independent investigation into the recruitment process in Limpopo.
The opposition party wants investigators to establish whether the hiring of the 140 workers complied fully with:
*The Constitution of South Africa
*The Public Service Act
*Official government recruitment policies and regulations
Kobe warned that any public appointment tainted by perceptions of political favouritism erodes public trust and entrenches cadre deployment within state institutions.
ActionSA demanded that if any procedural irregularities or political interference are uncovered during the requested probe, the appointments must be halted immediately and administrative or legal action taken against responsible officials.
Neither the Limpopo Department of Public Works and Infrastructure nor the provincial ANC leadership had issued a formal response to the claims at the time of publication.