Shock as armed cops evict HR executive from Ceta offices

There was high drama at the construction education & training authority (Ceta) headquarters in Midrand this week when acting human resources executive Brian Tyebileyo was fired and then frogmarched out by armed police as part of an apparent whistleblower hunt. 

Tyebileyo has spoken out within Ceta about alleged breaches in governance and meddling in his unit by CEO Malusi Shezi.

In several videos shared with the Sunday Times by fearful Ceta employees, two police officers, one carrying a rifle, are seen and heard engaging with staff in the Ceta office on Monday.

In one video, a police officer who identified himself as “Sgt Mangena” intervenes in a loud exchange involving the Ceta executive for education, training and quality assurance, Lebogang Phasha, while a union member records events on her phone.

“Stop what you are doing, we are not here for drama,” Mangena tells the union member, while attempting to take her phone. Phasha is standing and watching.

Tyebileyo’s dismissal comes as the auditor-general’s (AG’s) office, as part of its annual audit of the institution, flagged various incidents, including procurement and appointments, in the past financial year.

One of them is Phasha’s appointment, which was allegedly made despite him not meeting the minimum requirements for the position. 

Phasha, who also acts as the institution’s spokesperson, is believed to have summoned the police, several Ceta sources said. They asked not to be named for fear of reprisals and intimidation.

“Everyone is fearful at the moment because, besides Brian’s dismissal, we were told that a number of people had their devices taken and subjected to forensic digging because Shezi wants to uncover who has been speaking with the media,” one source said. “Right now the environment is as toxic as it ever was.”

Another source said: “Please share the videos of Brian’s removal widely, because we need urgent intervention.”

Shezi, who on Friday filed a defamation case against the Sunday Times and its journalist Sabelo Skiti, did not respond to questions.

At the heart of Shezi’s unhappiness with the Sunday Times are several articles published in June and July that reveal irregularities at Ceta during his tenure, as well as several instances where information he shared with parliament has been contradicted by facts. 

These include telling parliament that Ceta’s purchase of its head office conformed with the requirements for public procurement. However, as part of the ongoing audit, officials from the AG's office said it did not meet requirements as set out in National Treasury instructions.

In another instance he told parliament that a biometric system Ceta purchased was in the Ceta’s books, when it  was not.

In an e-mail to Shezi on Monday, Tyebileyo said: “I have served this organisation with the highest level of ethical standard, which IRRITATED you ... You cannot continue to destroy people’s livelihoods and expect your day will not come ... You are going to answer for the destruction you continue to inflict on people’s lives and this institution.” 

The Sunday Times was shown a screen shot of an e-mail sent by another executive, Molebogeng Taje, to Shezi and several other executive members.

In the e-mail, Taje said: “I have advised you on many, many occasions not to get involved in HR matters because you are not an HR expert. Your termination of Brian’s employment is unlawful, you cannot do that.”

Addressing Phasha in the same e-mail, he said: “I cannot believe that you actually called SAPS on an employee. That was deplorable. Look at what a spectacle you caused in the office yesterday.”