For the second time in a year, Makana's director of corporate and shared services, Mzukisi Madlavu, faces possible suspension.
For the second time in a year, Makana's director of corporate and shared services, Mzukisi Madlavu, faces possible suspension.
Madlavu's directorship covers a broad range of support services for the entire municipality including human resources, administrative support, ICT, PR and communications, and fleet management.
This week Madlavu told Grocott's Mail that his lawyers have received a letter from the municipality.
He didn't know what the letter said, but acting municipal manager Riana Meiring this week confirmed it was unrelated to disciplinary proceedings Madlavu was subjected to earlier this year.
A special council meeting on 7 July resolved that Madlavu should not be suspended following a formal grievance lodged against him on 12 January by a young woman intern.
The resolution was taken in light of Madlavu having remained in the workplace throughout that period, without having engaged in conduct that would jeopardise the investigation or intimidate the employee.
Suspending the official should have been done in the early stages as a precautionary measure, to prevent the investigation being compromised, a council report said.
Meiring said of the new matter, "This is not related to the first complaint against him. It's something different."
She said Madlavu had been told of Council's decision to give him a letter asking him to explain why he should not be placed on precautionary suspension.
Meiring did not, however, reveal what the new matter was about. Madlavu said he would be consulting with his lawyers.
He said if a letter containing allegations against a person was vague, that person had the right not to respond to it.
"You always have a right to say these are vague statements and I do not respond to vague allegations. You then continue with your work as normal. But I still say that my lawyers will respond to this issue," said Madlavu.
Meiring said this week, "The Council will wait for his response and take a decision of whether to put him on precautionary suspension or not."
