Makana Municipality's spokesman Mncedisi Boma has confirmed that Municipal Manager Pravine Naidoo has been placed on precautionary leave for seven days.
Makana Municipality's spokesman Mncedisi Boma has confirmed that Municipal Manager Pravine Naidoo has been placed on precautionary leave for seven days.
He said the decision was taken to prevent Naidoo from interfering in the investigations into his settlement case.
Documents in the possession of Grocott's Mail indicate that Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac earlier last month agreed to pay more than R100 000 in legal costs, on top of a R3 million out-of-court settlement with Naidoo.
The agreement lodged with the labour court follows Naidoo's dispute with Makana Municipality after he left office as municipal manager in 2007. The out of court settlement of R3m was a compromise after his initial demand for a R5m settlement.
Boma said a second reason for the decision was a result of the municipality's recent cash flow problems. He said Naidoo had seven days in which to respond to various allegations.
"I can not get into the merits now. These are just allegations at this stage," he said.
Boma said the Director for Public Safety and Community Services Mandisi Planga would act as the municipal manager during Naidoo's leave.
Boma reassured Makana's residents that Naidoo's temporary absence would not in any way affect municipal operations.
"Everything will operate normally," he said.
