Brian Vel
A New National Party permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is being investigated for drawing two salaries from the government.
Johannes Horne (55) is both a senator and a postman in the employ of the South African Post Office in Carnarvon, Northern Cape.
It appears that Horne did not inform the Post Office when he took up a position at the NCOP in Cape Town. Instead, he went on sick leave with full pay from September 1999.
Personnel records from the Post Office in the possession of the Mail & Guardian reflect that from September 14 1999 to May 31 last year, and from September 1 to September 26 last year, Horne was on sick leave with full pay.
From July to August 31 last year, and from September 27 to September 29 last year, he was “on leave” with full pay. His certificate of appointment as a permanent delegate to the NCOP is dated June 24 1999.
The speaker of the Northern Cape legislature, Reverend Calvin Smith, and the secretary to the legislature, Godfrey Mashope, plan to investigate the matter and bring it before the rules committee.
Members of the legislature who will be summoned before the committee to answer questions about Horne include the Northern Cape NNP leader, PW Saaiman, NNP chief whip Hennie Dirkse and the leader of the House, Dipuo Peters.
The NNP said the accusation against Horne is a smear campaign orchestrated by the African National Congress.
In an interview with the M&G, a visibly upset Saaiman denied that Horne had concealed his appointment as a permanent delegate to the NCOP. He said Horne resigned on grounds of ill health from his post as a mail handler at the Post Office in Carnarvon. “This man used to deliver mail by bicycle and as a result of long years of service developed health problems with his back.”
According to Saaiman, the Post Office refused to accept Horne’s resignation on grounds of ill health and instead continued to deposit his salary into his bank account. He advised Horne not to speak to the M&G before consulting his lawyers.
Mashope, however, confirmed that Horne is under investigation for holding down two government jobs, saying the legislature “views this as a matter of grave concern”.
He said investigators from the Post Office informed him that Horne was dismissed from the Post Office in November last year. He said his office and the Office of the Speaker were awaiting recommendations from the legislature’s legal department, as well as advice from the legal department of the National Assembly, before acting.
“What could happen in such a case is that the speaker could pass a motion in the house that Horne be recalled from the NCOP. It does not mean that he will be off the hook. The legislature will compare the time of Horne’s sick leave from the Post Office to that of his attendance in the NCOP and will take stern action if it is found that he has been holding down two government jobs at the same time,” Mashope said.
The doctors who issued medical certificates to Horne might also face action by the legislature if it is found that they acted in cahoots with him.
The area manager for the South African Post Office in Kimberley, Robin Masuaby, said he was not aware of the matter and could not confirm whether Horne was dismissed last year. Masuaby said he would investigate the matter and Horne will face dismissal if it is found he abused his sick leave privileges.
On his curriculum vitae Horne gives his work address as Post Office, Carnarvon, 8925, and states his present employment as senior mail handler. He has been a member of the NNP since 1979 and in 1995 was elected mayor of Carnarvon.