By Zukile Majova & Everson Luhanga
- An unsigned letter accuses Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of illegally promoting a female worker from Level 7 to Level 13 spokesperson.
- Scrolla.Africa spoke to Kamogelo Mogotsi, who denied the allegations against her, but confirmed she has followed Mchunu through three different departments.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is facing new claims that he abused his power to promote a junior female worker to a top government job.
An unsigned letter circulating on social media accuses Mchunu of fast-tracking Kamogelo Mogotsi from a lowly Level 7 administrative worker to a Level 13 department spokesperson when he was Minister of Public Service and Administration.
The promotion jumped Mogotsi six levels up the government ladder despite having no communication qualifications for the high-paying job.
The letter claims the promotion was not based on merit but on her special relationship with the minister.
Staff at the Department of Public Service and Administration reportedly sounded the alarm when Mchunu pushed through the irregular appointment.
Human Resources officials warned the minister that such a move would be illegal and damage the department’s reputation.
But Mchunu ignored their advice and forced the promotion through, even though his deputy minister, legal advisor and chief of staff were in the room when HR objected.
The letter says Mogotsi was allowed to ride in Mchunu’s official ministerial car and even use blue lights normally reserved for high-ranking officials.
She became the first ministerial staffer in the department’s history to get that special treatment.
Workers say they watched as Mchunu gave Mogotsi birthday flowers and handed them over personally, something no other staff member ever received from him.
While he often ignored ordinary employees, witnesses said he warmly hugged Mogotsi in public, with the affection clearly returned.
Staff say the favoritism destroyed morale and trust in the department. Some were so angry they vowed never to vote ANC again.
The letter calls Mogotsi’s rise a “symbol of institutional breakdown” and clear abuse of political power.
Mogotsi confirmed to Scrolla.Africa that she has followed Mchunu as his spokesperson across all three departments he has led – Public Service and Administration, Water and Sanitation, and now Police.
She denied knowing Brown Mogotsi, the businessman named by KwaZulu-Natal police boss Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as having corrupt influence over police operations.
“No, I do not know Mr Brown Mogotsi. I am not related to him, nor have I met him or interacted with him,” she said.
On the promotion allegations, Mogotsi confirmed she joined the department in 2018 and was asked to help with spokesperson duties after the previous person resigned. But she denied getting special treatment.
“I have an LLB degree and am an admitted attorney, and while my degree is not in communications as would be expected for a spokesperson, it does involve drafting and requires communication skills,” she said.
She claimed all her appointments were “based solely on merit, competence and performance” and denied receiving any preferential treatment during the hiring process.
“I have been the spokesperson to Minister Mchunu across all three departments he has led,” she confirmed, but insisted there was nothing improper about following him between government posts.
Pictured above: Minister Senzo Mchunu and Kamogelo Mogotsi.
Image source: Social media
This article has been updated.
