The director-general of justice and constitutional development, Doctor Mashabane, has been accused by his staff of hijacking a lift in his office building for his own exclusive use, only accessible through his fingerprints.
The department has disputed this, saying it was a goods lift used for security reasons.
The claims surfaced when a group of “concerned DoJ [department of justice] employees” sent a letter complaining about this to parliament’s portfolio committee on justice and correctional services.
On May 16, during a sitting of the committee, the chairperson, Gratitude Magwanishe, acknowledged receipt of the letter, which TimesLIVE Premium has seen. Several allegations of abuse of power are made against him — including the lift saga. The matter is still before the committee.
“The question is, how much was spent to configure the lift to be used by the DG alone? The lift was configured at a cost” reads part of the letter.
The employees claim the DG asked for the lift to be reconfigured on behalf of justice minister Ronald Lamola, but he does not work from that building at the moment.
“Also, does the SMS (senior management service) handbook allow for a DG to have a special lift dedicated to him? What is so special about the current DG?” reads the letter.
Mashabane was appointed as the DG of the department in February 2021. The lift in question is at the department’s national office, at the Momentum building in Pretoria. Lamola is working from the SALU building in Pretoria.
That lift only opens with his fingerprints. It goes straight from the basement to his office on the 16th floor without stopping at any of the levels. The lift is used by him and his protectors only.
— Anonymous staff member
Staff who spoke to TimesLIVE Premium on condition of anonymity expressed their unhappiness: “He is too conscious of his rank and doesn’t want to mix with officials in the same lift,” one employee claimed.
Another source said: “That lift only opens with his fingerprints. It goes straight from the basement to his office on the 16th floor without stopping at any of the levels. The lift is used by him and his protectors only.”
Spokesperson for the department, Steve Mahlangu, said the lift in question was a goods lift, which for security reasons has restricted access.
“The lift has been part of the building from time immemorial and was never designed or installed for an individual. The building is being reconfigured to accommodate the minister, the deputy minister, DG and other senior managers who were accommodated in a different building.
Another source said the lift that has been reconfigured for Mashabane’s sole use was previously used by disabled people.
“That lift made access to the building easier for people on wheelchairs, now they have to walk further to access another lift because they can’t use this one, since it can only be opened by the DG’s fingerprints, or those of his protectors,” said the source.
The department, however, says the building has sufficient lifts that are operational throughout the day, even during the busiest times of the day.
The department offered TimesLIVE Premium an opportunity to visit and conduct an inspection in loco and be given a tour of the building by their chief of security. The publication took up the offer two weeks ago, but the department failed to confirm a date. The DG was also not available to speak since he is on leave.
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