AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
KHUSELA DIKO, the spokesperson for South African Presiden Cyril Ramaphosa has returned to service after a year-long suspension, but will not work for the head of state any longer.
Ramaphosa has revealed that Diko would be re-deployed to a new post in the civil service, following a disciplinary hearing from which she got away with a warning. Sources told The African Mirror that Diko would be moved to the Government Communication and Information Services.
Diko was suspended a year after a company owned by her husband, who has since died, was implicated in a multimillion-rand COVID-19 personal protection scandal. The R125-million tender awarded to Royal Baca was cancelled following an investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.
The South African Presidency announced that it has completed a disciplinary process against Diko for her failure to disclose her interests in certain companies as required by public service regulations on the disclosure of financial interests.
“Following the disciplinary process, Ms Diko has been served with a written warning for this offence. The action taken by the Presidency management was in compliance with a recommendation by the SIU that Ms Diko be disciplined for her failure to disclose certain interests. This recommendation arose from an SIU investigation into the government’s procurement of COVID-19 personal protective equipment. Ms Diko, who is currently on maternity leave, will not return to the position of Spokesperson to the President but to a different position in the public service. Mr Tyrone Seale will continue as acting Spokesperson to the President,” said Mondli Gungubele, the Minister in the Presidency, in a statement.
