Johannesburg - A City of Joburg official who was dismissed from his job because of allegations of cellphone theft against him has been rehired.
Pikitup boss Amanda Nair has re-hired Donovan Denyssen at a salary of R1.4 million a year, even though company records show that Denyssen was dismissed from Pikitup last year.
Denyssen had, prior to his dismissal, quit his job after he was accused of stealing three official cellphones from a safe room and irregularly issuing them to his boss, Nair, and her relatives.
Denyssen jumped ship before disciplinary action was instituted against him. He was found guilty of misconduct and dismissed.
According to the report, a few months after she received the three cellphones, Nair requested a fourth phone and a tablet.
She then allegedly gave them as birthday presents to the son of the city of Joburg mayoral committee member responsible for environment and infrastructure services, Matshidiso Mfikoe.
Mfikoe has denied receiving the items. And insiders claim she sold the items.
An investigation was conducted after Pikitup cellphone administrators and IT staff members found the cellphones were missing.
The city of Joburg Risk Management Department conducted an investigation and found several cellphones were missing from the safe room and Denyssen was the only person who had the keys.
Denyssen told investigators that he “issued” Nair with three Samsung phones. “The cellphones were intended to be used by Nair household members,” he said.
The report also states that as a result of Denyssen’s action, Pikitup incurred a loss of R33 237 and that Nair should pay it back.
It recommended that a case of theft and disciplinary action be taken against Denyssen.
Pikitup spokesman Jacky Mashapu confirmed that Denyssen was reappointed at the beginning of last month, but refused to say how much he was earning.
“With respect to Mr Denyssen, his exit from Pikitup last year was the result of his resignation,” Mashapu said.
Denyssen had applied for a position advertised in accordance with Pikitup’s recruitment policy and, following processes set out in Pikitup’s procedures and policies, was reappointed.
It was not clear if Denyssen was vetted before his reappointment.
A case of theft was opened by Pikitup’s regional security risk manager Anton Engelbretch, last year.
According to the report, Nair and Mfikoe were not interviewed regarding the allegations made against them due to the sensitivity of the investigation. But insiders told The Star that investigators were instructed not to interview Nair and Mfikoe.
“Donovan was implicating Nair and Mfikoe, so it was important that they should have been interviewed. They just want to sweep this matter under the carpet as usual,” said an official, who asked not to be named.
Insiders also alleged that Nair used Denyssen as her spy.
“He monitors all the e-mails sent by the employees because she is so paranoid, she thinks the employees are colluding against her. That is why this guy must come back to do her dirty job. Even before he left Pikitup, he was her spy,” said a source who refused to be identified for fear of reprisals.
Nair is not new to controversy. Last year she was suspended for almost a year pending an investigation into several allegations against her. After an enquiry, she was found not guilty and reinstated
.
Nair did not respond.
The Star