Pretoria - The Department of Communications says it has noted with concern continued malicious media reports which claim divisions in the DoC.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Acting Director-General Donald Liphoko said the department rejects and dismisses such reports as malicious and without basis.
Media reports claim that Liphoko, among other malicious reports, issued letters to senior managers stripping them of their powers, but he said: “these reports are untrue and without basis”.
“The reports further allege an existence of some fight back among managers which are not true. The reports quotes unnamed sources whose intentions are to cause unnecessary divisions in the department.
“The department wishes to put it on the record that these reports are untrue, senior managers are still responsible for their portfolios and continue to discharge the responsibilities assigned to them,” he said.
Liphoko said the department continues to hold its weekly management committee meetings, which are used to monitor the implementation of the departmental strategic plans and targets.
The department has also noted reports of a newspaper supplement which was not authorised by the department.
“It is in the nature of communication that matters may arise that necessitate unplanned communication, which is dictated by the communication environment.
“In this regard, such communication may require the movement of funds to accommodate such need. Therefore, there is no basis to suggest an unauthorised expenditure.
“The department is annually audited to ensure compliance with government procurement procedures. In this financial year 2014/15 the department will be subjected to audit process to ensure that all procurement procedures were adhered to,” he said.
Liphoko also confirmed that the Department of Communication and the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) will from 1 April 2015 exist side by side as two separate organizations.
He said the GCIS will continue to discharge its communication responsibilities as an agency of the Department of Communications. - SAnews.gov.za
