Durban - A bitter battle is brewing between suspended Mhlathuze Water chief executive Sibusiso Makhanya and the water board’s chairwoman, Dudu Myeni.
Myeni, who is the chairwoman of South African Airways, has also recently been appointed to be the transitional chairwoman of the amalgamated provincial water board, which will be formed from the merger of Mhlathuze and Umgeni Water boards.
Makhanya, who was suspended in November on misconduct charges, has approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court to challenge the validity of his suspension and the processes that were followed.
Makhanya approached the court after the water board failed to notify him of the disciplinary charges against him for several months after his suspension.
He claims in court papers that Myeni instigated the investigation against him because he would not “toe the line” and follow instructions on certain matters she wanted to impose on him.
But Myeni, in a replying affidavit, alleged that Makhanya was suspended owing to tender irregularities.
Last Friday, in anticipation of a weekend newspaper report on the court case, Mhlathuze released a statement alleging that the allegations against Myeni were “spurious and a deliberate distortion to conform to the agenda of tarnishing the image of the chairperson”.
The Mercury understands that Makhanya has been charged with at least four charges of misconduct related to allegations that:
* He used the company credit card for personal use.
* He facilitated the appointment of people he knew from his church to the water authority.
* He incurred fruitless and wasteful expenditure related to the purchase of accommodation to attend the Durban July, and other travel expenses, including for overseas travel for his wife.
* He signed off on tenders without the authority to do so.
But a source close to Makhanya, who spoke to The Mercury on Thursday on condition of anonymity, said Makhanya strongly denied the charges.
The source said Makhanya was adamant that he had not used the company credit card for his personal use and that he had paid for his wife’s overseas travel.
Other allegations would also be challenged as Makhanya would argue that he did have the necessary authority to sign off on tenders when he was the acting chief executive and that he had not influenced the appointment of anyone to the water authority.
Interim Mhlathuze chief executive Mthokosizi Duze confirmed on Thursday that Makhanya was still on suspension but said he could not comment on the misconduct charges as the matter was before the high court.
The Mercury