The Grahamstown High Court has thrown out suspended municipal manager Pravine Naidoo's R3 million settlement and confirmed his suspension.
The Grahamstown High Court has thrown out suspended municipal manager Pravine Naidoo's R3 million settlement and confirmed his suspension.
The R3 million settlement with the municipality is in connection with a labour dispute during his previous term as municipal manager.
Council's attorney is investigating events surrounding the settlement.
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 cover-ups.
Acting Municipal Manager Mandisi Planga said the court ruled in favour of Makana Municipality and against Naidoo on both counts.
Naidoo was also ordered to pay the costs of the application.
Meanwhile the ANC's provincial executive committee (PEC) have denied that they interfered in strategic manager Mncedisi Boma's suspension, after he was charged with stealing a file containing crucial information regarding Naidoo.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail this week, PEC secretary Oscar Mabuyane said they would never do such a thing.
"We can't do that as the PEC, because we don't know what is happening there. We are waiting for the MEC's report according to the Section 164 intervention, so we can't say charges must be dropped. We will know then if there is merit to the charges or it is just mere mischief… then that could be considered," said Mabuyane.
"We are just waiting for the MEC to finalise issues of his intervention and provide support if there is any needed. We are expecting a report from him and we will take if from there."
Boma is the local ANC sub-region's chairperson.
A file reportedly containing all Naidoo's employment information – crucial to investigations that form part of his disciplinary proceedings went missing last year.
Planga last week confirmed that the file was reportedly taken by Boma.
"I can confirm that the file is with him and he is refusing to give it to us," said Planga at the time. "He admitted to having it at home, and said he had taken it for 'safe-keeping'."
Planga also said this refusal was part of the reason for Boma's current suspension.
DA caucus leader Les Reynolds said this week said the party was not surprised that someone would protect Boma.
"But we are determined to watch every move, we are watching very carefully what is going on there," said Reynolds.
When asked for comment about the alleged pressure to drop the charges against Boma, Planga refused to comment.
Last week Boma denied having the file in his possession, although police confirmed that a case of theft had been opened against him.
