Moorosi Tsiane
THE Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition (MASFN) has temporarily been blocked from enforcing the abrupt dismissal of seven drivers following allegations of corruption by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO).
The drivers, employed under the Wool and Mohair Value Chain and Competitiveness Project (WAMCOP), approached the Labour Court this week, challenging what they argue were unlawful terminations of their job contracts.
Labour Court Deputy President Lieketso Ntene has issued an interim order suspending the dismissals pending the finalisation of their litigation.
The seven drivers—Tsebiso Sebehela, Kopano Mpakanyane, Rethabile Putsoa, Lehlohonolo Rampai, Tšepo Tsele, Thabiso Lepitla, and Bohoko Nthako—were engaged on three-year contracts starting 1 November 2025. However, their employment was abruptly terminated on 28 January 2026 by the Ministry’s Principal Secretary, Dr Khothatso Tšooana.
In letters to the drivers, Dr Tšooana stated that he acted on the advice of DCEO Director General, Brigadier Advocate Mantšo Sello, who alleged that their recruitment process had been tainted by corruption.
“…following the communication received from the DCEO and in accordance with Section 6(1)(i) of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act No.5 of 1999, the Ministry has been advised to restart the recruitment process for WAMCOP drivers. In light of this directive, your current appointment as WAMCOP driver is hereby terminated with immediate effect…” read part of the dismissal letter.
Challenging the decision, the drivers—represented by Advocate Christopher Lephuthing—sought an interim order from the Labour Court to restrain and interdict the termination of their contracts and to prevent the ministry from advertising their positions until the matter is concluded.
Adv Lephuthing argued that Adv Sello and Dr Tšooana had misinterpreted Section 6(1)(i) of the Act, wrongly assuming it grants the DCEO authority to terminate employment contracts.
“…the functions of DCEO are set out in this section and do not vest them with powers to terminate employment contracts. Brigadier Sello is now directing the termination of contracts for employees he never hired, under the pretext of enforcing Section 6 of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act. This approach contradicts the constitutional jurisprudence of our country and relies on generalized assumptions about what constitutes corruption,” Adv Lephuthing argued.
He added that no officials within MASFN had been questioned as suspects in any alleged corruption.
“This claim of corruption is a red herring. The DG-DCEO must disclose the names of those he claims corruptly recruited my clients. As no one in the ministry has been officially questioned, the directive to terminate their employment is premature and exceeds his authority,” he said.
Adv Lephuthing further emphasized that there is no law allowing DCEO to intervene in the Ministry’s human resource matters to such an extent.
Deputy President Ntene granted the interim order on Tuesday, suspending the dismissals and interdicting the advertisement of the positions. The full merits of the case are set to be argued on 2 March 2026.
Adv Sello, Dr Tšooana, and Attorney General Rapelang Motsieloa are first to third respondents respectively in the matter.
