GOOD Speech by Peter de Villiers,
GOOD Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
14 September 2023
Note to editor: This speech was delivered by GOOD’s Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Mr Peter De Villiers, today regarding Brian Schreuder. Schreuder previously served as the head of the Western Cape education department. His contract was controversially extended past retirement age and found irregular by the Public Service Commission.
Honourable Speaker…
I asked the Premier some questions pertaining to the appointment of Mr. Schreuder in the sitting last Thursday.
I also asked whether he had followed through on the recommendations contained in the final report by Mr Goosen and the Commission.
The Premier read me the answer he had read to this house in late 2020.
I thus have the unpleasant task of telling this house that in the process of trying to, at all costs, prove the regularity and validity of what has and will remain a controversial appointment, the Premier has made himself guilty of deceiving this house and manipulating the truth.
I say this without reservation because his answers to the questions posed last week leaves no room for anyone hearing those answers to consider the fact that the Commission led by Mr. Leon Goosen had in fact not agreed or accepted the legal opinion the Premier had obtained on the matter and stood steadfastly behind the findings of their report.
The Premier chose not to share this information with either the Standing Committee on Education or this House when he addressed them in late 2020 and failed to afford the Commission an opportunity to defend their report.
My office spoke with Mr Leon Goosen who rejected the impression created by the Premier’s answers to my questions in this house last week and in the past.
He states that at no point did he or the Commission accept that the Premier’s legal opinion was the right opinion in this matter.
Furthermore, please note:
Section 196(4)(d) of The Constitution of The Republic of South Africa, 1996 says:
The powers and functions of the Commission are to give directions aimed at ensuring that personnel procedures relating to recruitment, transfers, promotions, and dismissals comply with the values and principles set out in section 195;
Section 5(8)(a) and (b) of the Public Service Act:
The Commission may investigate compliance with this Act and may issue directions in order to ensure compliance with this Act and in order to provide advice to promote sound public administration.
If the Commission issues a direction the relevant executive authority shall implement the direction as soon as possible after receipt of the written communication conveying the direction but, in any event, within 60 days after the date of such receipt.
The Public Service Act provides in section 5(8)(b) that the directions of the PSC are binding on the executive authority (the Minister or the Member of the Executive Council).
I thank you, Speaker.
Media Enquiries:
Peter De Villiers, GOOD Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Cell: 079 116 8957
Email: devilliers.pt@gmail.com
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za