Muni Manager's Matric Questioned

While doubt has been expressed from several quarters over the existence of Polokwane Municipal Manager Conny Mamatja’s matric qualification she has provided Polokwane Observer with a copy of a Senior Certificate issued in her name yet not reflecting her identity number or date of birth.

Mametja’s curriculum vitae makes no reference to a matric qualification. According to a personal credential verification certificate containing her vetting results done by Managed Integrity Evaluation (MIE) her matric qualification for the year 1987 at Marobathota High School could not be confirmed. The results state that verification was attempted but that the Department of Education could not assist the process without a copy of the certificate and that there is no listing available for the school nor did her employee file contain such a copy.

Annoyed about the matter being questioned with the municipality’s communications department Mametja invited Polokwane Observer for an interview in order to provide the publication with her matric certificate. “For some reason my certificate, which I submitted was not in my employee file. I come from an educated family where my parents and siblings all hold degrees. I don’t know why my matric qualification is being questioned,” she said.

Mametja said a matric qualification is not important to her and offered that as reason why no mention is made of it is made in her CV. “Any applicant needs at least a degree when applying for the position of municipal manager and I have a Masters of Administration degree,” she said. Mametja was formerly employed as acting Municipal Manager and then Manager at the Greater Tzaneen Municipality before being appointed as Polokwane Municipal Manager in July 2012.

Polokwane Observer tried to verify Mametja’s matric certificate with the Department of Education but Spokesperson Kaela Galane referred the publication to the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi). An employee in the council’s certification department confirmed that a matric certificate should either contain a learner’s identification number or at least a date of birth. On Mametja’s matric certificate the space allocated for this information is filled with Xs.

Polokwane Observer was then referred to the national Department of Education and was at the time of going to press informed that Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga was on leave and no one else was able to assist.