WHILE the Ex-political Prisoners Association (EPPA) has welcomed disciplinary action that will be taken against two Robben Island Museum (RIM) employees, they are steadfast that the long-awaited report of the forensic investigation be made public.
However, RIM council chairperson Khensani Maluleke said due to the ongoing disciplinary process as a whole, the report’s outcomes will only be made public in the form of an executive summary after this process had been completed.
The report by MacRobert Attorneys, who was appointed in June 2020, was established to provide legal advice as to whether there were any prima facie grounds to take steps, disciplinary or otherwise, against any official of the RIM.
During the course of the investigation, further allegations were brought to the attention of the RIM council, which resolved that the allegations fell within the scope of the terms of reference issued to MacRobert Attorneys and ought to be investigated.
Those allegations raised by EPPA included poor overall performance by RIM management, poor ferry operational management, nepotism and intellectual property theft.
Maluleke only shared partial details of the independent investigation into allegations of mismanagement at the museum on Sunday.
He said there was only one adverse finding, amid 22 allegations initially probed against officials.
“It was always the intention of the RIM council to make the findings of the report and the resultant actions public. In terms of the additional allegations which were investigated, we are happy to report that the independent investigation found no basis for further action, as there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations.
“We hope that these findings will put to rest the negative narrative that has been perpetuated by certain stakeholders, and politicians.”
Maluleke said the report highlighted a prima facie case for disciplinary action, against two RIM officials.
The State Attorney has appointed a chairperson to chair the disciplinary inquiry and arrangements were being made for the internal disciplinary process within the next few weeks.
“Due to the ongoing disciplinary process and out of respect for the RIM employees concerned, potential witnesses and the integrity of the disciplinary process as a whole, no further information can responsibly be provided at this stage. We remain committed to transparency and the finalisation of the disciplinary process and/or any other legal proceedings relating thereto,” he said.
According to Maluleke the report further made recommendations to the RIM council to remedy certain shortcomings; these include engaging with the relevant stakeholders, the review of policies and implementation of measures to avoid non-compliance with policies or legislation and engaging the Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
EPPA secretary-general Mpho Masemola said: "In the true interests of transparency, openness, full accountability and good governance of our public entities when public corruption is rampant and the subject of various commissions, nothing less than full disclosure of this and the other reports into how RIM is managed will satisfy the public’s need to know what exactly has been happening at their cultural historical site. We therefore call on Minister Mthethwa to ensure that these reports are publicly disclosed.”