The fluorescent lights of the Labour Ministry’s boardroom in Pretoria buzzed with tension as Minister Nomakhosazana Meth faced a wall of microphones and flashing cameras. At the center of the storm was a sharply worded allegation—one that had circulated through opposition party statements and anonymous “whistleblower” leaks over the past 48 hours: that her recent appointment of a new Acting Director-General for the Department of Employment and Labour had been irregular, if not outright unlawful.
But Minister Meth, known for her measured tone and sharp legal grasp, did not flinch. Clasping her hands on the polished oak table, she began her rebuttal with quiet precision. “These claims are factually incorrect,” she said, her voice steady but firm. “They stem from a fundamental misunderstanding—or perhaps a deliberate distortion—of public service regulations.”
According to Meth, the appointment followed Chapter 14 of the Public Service Regulations, which permits the Minister to designate an acting head of department from a pool of senior officials, provided certain conditions are met. “All conditions were satisfied,” she insisted. “The individual in question holds the requisite qualifications and has served in an executive capacity for over seven years. There was no bypass of the Public Service Commission, no secret memorandum, and no political favoritism.”
Behind her, legal advisors nodded in confirmation. Documents were passed to journalists showing timelines, delegation letters, and signed approvals. Meth went further, accusing unnamed critics of using “procedural smokescreens” to distract from the department’s genuine challenges—unemployment statistics, labor disputes, and the backlog of compensation claims.
“If anyone has evidence of irregularity,” she challenged, “let them take it to the courts. But I will not allow baseless rumours to destabilise this department.” As she stood to leave, a young reporter called out whether she felt targeted. Meth paused at the door. “I feel accountable,” she replied. “And that is why I am telling the truth.”
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