For the second time in two years, yet another spin doctor for Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade has become embroiled in a heated spat with a colleague which is said to have turned physical during a government event.
This time, a complaint was formally lodged with the department’s labour relations desk against Gade’s newly appointed spokesperson, Velani Mbiza-Gola, after he allegedly manhandled provincial education communications office assistant director Nomava Ncapayi.
This led to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) staging a protest at the provincial education headquarters in Zwelitsha, Qonce, on Thursday morning, calling for the suspension of Mbiza-Gola.
Allegations about the quarrel are contained in a grievance letter by Ncapayi, seen by the Dispatch, in which she said the altercation had occurred as Gade was preparing to speak to the media at the Regent Hotel in East London during a rural education partnerships conference.
Ncapayi further alleged she had been looking for Mbiza-Gola all over the venue until she found him having a “serious” conversation with three other officials who worked at Gade’s office.
“I didn't want to disturb because I could see that the conversation was serious so I waited not far from them so that when they were done I could speak to Mr Mbiza-Gola,” she said.
“It didn't take long and they were done with the conversation and when everyone else moved away I then approached Mr Mbiza-Gola, who was now standing next to the three SABC journalists who had requested the interview.
“I said to Mr Mbiza-Gola, ’Velani, the SABC is requesting an interview with the MEC.’
“Without even finishing what I was saying, Mbiza-Gola shouted at me, saying “I am the MLO here” repeatedly at the top of his voice, which grabbed the attention of the people who were nearby including the journalists.
“I was caught off guard by his response and reaction so much that I immediately said without matching his tone and pitch of his voice: ‘Why are you pulling rank on me? How did we get to that? In fact let’s just leave it,’ and then I turned and walked away from the situation.
“When I was moving away, Mr Mbiza-Gola forcefully grabbed me by my upper left arm so tightly that I stopped and said ‘please let go of me’ but that fell on deaf ears as Mr Mbiza-Gola did not loosen his grip and while doing that he said: ‘You people need to hear this, especially you and you also need to be straightened up and (I) am going to straighten you up.’
“I continued to tell him to let go of me and eventually he did and Ms [Vuyiseka] Mboxela came and walked me further from him.”
Ncapayi also said Mbiza-Gola had at about 8pm on the same day called her husband on his cellphone, but he had decided to ignore the call.
“This incident has left me traumatised and with so many questions that I have no answers to,” she said.
“I also have employees whom I supervise and most of them are women and I need to send them to attend events with Mbiza-Gola in future so I feel this needs to be addressed as soon as possible.”
Ncapayi declined to comment when contacted by the paper.
Mbiza-Gola referred questions to Mboxela.
“I think the department could have an objective response on the matter,” he said.
Comment could not be obtained from Mboxela.
In April, Mbiza-Gola was appointed as Gade’s media liaison officer, taking over from Mboxela who was appointed as the department’s director for communications and events. Ncapayi is her assistant director.
In July 2023, Mboxela was suspended after she was embroiled in an ugly spat with a colleague at the department’s provincial headquarters in Zwelitsha.
Two video clips of the incident were widely shared on social media.
Between Wednesday and Thursday morning, more than 50 staff members affiliated with Nehawu and the SA Democratic Teachers Union staged a protest outside the communications directorate office in Zwelitsha in solidarity with Ncapayi and calling on Gade to suspend Mbiza-Gola.
The protesters were carrying placards saying “No to GBV” and “Away with Mboxela and her friends”.
One of the protesters said: “We want Gade to take decisive action because clearly there’s something wrong at that office.
“This month we celebrate women, but there women are [allegedly] subjected to GBV even at the office.
“There is no way someone can [allegedly] manhandle a woman until she suffers bruises and then it gets swept under the carpet.”
Daily Dispatch
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