Communications department director-general Mamodupi Mohlala has not been reinstated to her position, according to a statement issued on Monday by the office of communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda.

The statement says Harold Wesso will continue as acting director-general for now. This is despite the fact that Mohlala returned to work on Monday, only to find she had been locked out of her office.

According to Nyanda’s statement, the department of public service & administration has asked for a seven-day extension to the 30-day leave of absence Mohlala had agreed to take at the end of last month in an out-of-court settlement with Nyanda.

Public service & administration minister Richard Baloyi is attempting to find alternative employment for Mohlala in the public service.

But Mohlala says the communications ministry has “jumped the gun” with its statement, insisting everything depends on the outcome of a meeting scheduled between her and Baloyi for 4.30pm on Monday.

“If I am satisfied that minister Baloyi can produce something valuable for me in the next seven days — something he has not done in the past month — then I will go to court and extend the agreement reached in the out-of-court settlement.”

However, she warns that if she is “not satisfied”, she will return to work on Tuesday. — Staff reporter, TechCentral