Makana Municipality has dismissed as baseless allegations that the suspension of a senior manager constitutes a witch-hunt against him.
Makana Municipality has dismissed as baseless allegations that the suspension of a senior manager constitutes a witch-hunt against him.
Director of Corporate and Shared Services Mzukisi Madlavu has denied any wrongdoing and labelled his suspension and subsequent disciplinary action a witch-hunt.
Madlavu is accused of taking time off work without leave.
This decision was taken during a special council meeting in the Council chambers on Monday. The suspension is effective immediately, according to a confidential council item tabled in the meeting.
Madlavu will remain on full pay during his suspension until the finalisation of the disciplinary process against him.
Chris Baker attorneys were appointed on 31 July to conduct the investigation against Madlavu in accordance with Regulation 5(3)(a) of the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for senior managers of 2010.
The investigation must be concluded within 30 days of the date of the appointment letter that was issued to the attorneys, according to the confidential document, of which Grocott's Mail is in possession.
Council came to the decision to suspend Madlavu after it had been provided with information which suggested that Madlavu had allegedly committed serious misconduct. Madlavu is accused of being absent from work without permission.
He is also accused of lying to his supervisor, acting municipal manager Riana Meiring, in an e-mail sent on 8 July stating that he was attending a Certificate Programme in Municipal Development (CPMD) course when he was not there.
Madlavu, according to a confidential report from Meiring, has taken more than two weeks off without leave between June and July. In response to these allegations, Madlavu's lawyers claimed his suspension was a witch-hunt.
They also claimed that his suspension is counterproductive in that he would stay away from work, which is what he has allegedly been suspended for.
He also denied that he said in the 8 July e-mail that he was at the CPMD course. His lawyers claim that in the e-mail he was making a general comment regarding leave applications for the CPMD course.
They further state that Madlavu's suspension will constitute disciplinary action rather than a precautionary measure. In her report, Meiring has stated that there is no basis for Madlavu's bold assertion that his suspension and/or pending disciplinary action constitutes a witch-hunt or the fact that his suspension constitutes disciplinary action rather than a precautionary measure.
She said there was no substance in the argument that suspending him is counterproductive, because suspension constitutes absence with permission while the actions he is suspended for constitute absence without permission.
Meiring also points out that the impact of retaining Madlavu in the workplace in the view of the seriousness of the allegations of misconduct against him far outweigh the impact on the administration of Makana Municipality which would arise as a result of Madlavu's absence from work.
Attempts to get hold of Madlavu were unsuccessful at the time of going to press. Municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo confirmed that the Council resolved to suspend Madlavu from 24 August until the disciplinary procedure is concluded.
"He was suspended in terms of gross misconduct but full details of the suspension will be revealed after the conclusion of the procedure," she said.
Madlavu narrowly escaped suspension last month during another case in which he faced charges of misconduct and sexual harassment against a junior employee.
However, Meiring advised against the suspension due to the fact that the municipality had failed to act on the allegations on time. anele@grocotts.co.za
