Claims of nepotism spark inquiry

Cape Town's disaster management and emergency services departments have initiated an internal forensic investigation into claims of nepotism in the appointment of staff.

Particularly at issue is the recent appointment of a group of assistant disaster management officers, which had other staff crying foul, alleging that more qualified staff had been overlooked for the positions in favour of new recruits.

The Cape Argus has been alerted to at least three cases in which a relative of a city employee, working in either disaster management or emergency services, has been appointed as one of these officers.

These include:

The brother of the disaster management spokesman and special projects manager, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes. The daughter of Steve Abrahamse, a fire services divisional commander stationed at Goodwood. The son of the disaster management manager for logistics planning and management, Peter Daniels. Late in 2008 the city advertised for 21 assistant disaster management officers and made appointments in January 2009. Greg Pillay, head of the disaster management department, declined to comment. But the city's media manager Kylie Hatton confirmed that a forensic investigation was under way. She would not, however, confirm or deny whether these three cases were under investigation. "The city confirms that there is a forensic investigation under way into allegations of irregularities with the recruitment and appointment of certain staff within the city's disaster risk management department but cannot disclose the details or scope thereof at this stage," Hatton said. Approached for comment, Solomons-Johannes confirmed that his brother had recently been employed in the disaster management department but said he had nothing to do with his brother's recruitment and was on leave at the time the appointment was made. "I am led to believe that he is working in a Brackenfell office but I don't want to get involved," he said. Abrahamse said his daughter was well qualified for the job, having been a disaster management volunteer for at least 10 years. She was also a qualified basic ambulance assistant and was qualified to work in vehicle rescue. She had previously worked as a teacher. "She was one of many selected and underwent a rigorous short-listing and interviewing process. Besides, disaster management has nothing to do with fire services," he added. Daniels declined to confirm the appointment of his son, referring questions to Pillay. Assistant disaster management officers earn about R144 000 a year. Although the advertisement did not specify that a post-matric qualification was required and offered on-the-job training, city staff are upset that some people with recognised disaster management qualifications were allegedly overlooked. "We are very unhappy that some of us didn't even get an interview," said one source.

- Cape Argus