Tshwane reinstates suspended senior manager accused of s.e.xual harassment

Dennis TMarch 26, 2021

34 1 minute read

Tshwane acting city manager Mmaseabata Mutlaneng temporarily relaxed the suspension of a senior manager accused of s.e.xual harassment and allowed him to perform official duties.

Early this year, council resolved to place the department head – who cannot be named due to the nature of the alleged offence – on three month’s suspension due to the seriousness of the allegations levelled against him.
This was to allow for investigations into the allegations against him.

However, the official was temporarily brought back for the purposes of meeting with the office of the Auditor-General, which was compiling a report on the City’s finances.

In a letter leaked to Pretoria News, Mutlaneng wrote to the accused informing him of the temporary relaxation of his suspension on conditions, for the purposes of meeting with the office of the Auditor-General on March 2.

City chief of staff Jordan Griffiths said this was not something out of the ordinary because the Auditor-General could summon anybody to come and account for work that was carried out when they were on duty.

He said the official was still under suspension and was only requested by the City because the Auditor-General could not contact him directly, and thus asked the city manager to request that he be available. The manager was suspended after two women complained to the City and subsequently opened a case with the police accusing him of s.e.xual harassment.

In his defence, he said the accusations were timed for the end of last year to coincide with 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, to tarnish his reputation built over a 20-year career.

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