Claiming "concrete evidence" of their interference in municipal financial and operational matters, the DA has vowed to pursue criminal charges against Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac and suspended Strategic Manager Mncedisi Boma.
Claiming "concrete evidence" of their interference in municipal financial and operational matters, the DA has vowed to pursue criminal charges against Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac and suspended Strategic Manager Mncedisi Boma.
This comes as Council prepares to serve municipal manager Pravine Naidoo, also on suspension, with charges of serious misconduct.
The move follows an investigation by Council's attorney into events surrounding the settlement of a labour dispute between Naidoo and Makana Municipality.
Documents in Grocott's Mail's possession appear to lend support to allegations that Naidoo interfered in this settlement. Among them are shocking claims of deliberate moves to cover up manipulation of official processes.
Council attorney Chris Baker said in a report tabled in a Council meeting this week that there is evidence Naidoo abused his position to achieve a settlement favourable to him, but prejudicial to the municipality.
Baker said because of the serious nature of Naidoo's alleged misconduct, the acting municipal manager should be authorised to appoint an independent external presiding officer to lead evidence.
Naidoo was placed on precautionary suspension last year on grounds of alleged misconduct, after claims that he interfered with his labour dispute settlement. He was given seven days to explain why he should not be suspended. Council resolved after receiving a report from Naidoo that he should be suspended for a period of 90 days, pending a disciplinary hearing.
When Naidoo refused to leave, Makana Council obtained a high court order to suspend him.
Acting municipal manager Mandisi Planga refused to enter into the details of Naidoo's suspension this week, saying the matter was still sub judice. Planga confirmed that Naidoo was still suspended, however, and that a disciplinary procedure was under way.
"We have to respect the employer-employee relationship in such cases," he said.
ANC chief whip Julia Wells responded similarly to questions about allegations that the Mayor and the Speaker had been involved in manipulating Naidoo's settlement. Wells said the issues were discussed in a confidential session of a Council meeting on Monday and would remain confidential. She said there would be discussions with the municipality's communications officer about the matter.
DA caucus leader Les Reynolds told Grocott's Mail that during Monday's confidential session, the ANC caucus had resisted moves to appoint an independent external presiding officer in Naidoo's disciplinary process. Instead they had insisted that MEC for local government and Traditional Affairs Mlibo Qoboshiyane should handle the case.
"We also appointed a special committee last year who were going to investigate the involvement of the Mayor and the Speaker in this matter. The ANC caucus didn't want that," said Reynolds. "The matter was then forced to a vote and we were outvoted."
In a media release issued on Thursday 16 January, the DA quoted a response to a question in the Provincial Legislature tabled by DA MPL Dacre Haddon.
"Following sustained pressure at a parliamentary level by myself, MEC Qoboshiyane admitted that Dr Pravine Naidoo was not entitled to the payment of any of his legal costs or any other settlement in regard to the termination of his earlier term of employment." Frontier constituency leader Kevin Mileham said in the statement.
"The negotiations and agreement between the Speaker, Cllr. Rachel Madinda-Isaac, and Dr Naidoo were irregular and unauthorised; and the settlement agreement was concluded purely to prejudice the Makana Municipality."
