By Molefi Sompane
SASOLBURG – Metsimaholo Local Municipality on Wednesday, July 25 suspended its Supply Chain manager Basie Motlou again, two months after he returned to work from an earlier suspension.
Motlou won an earlier case against his employer, leading to his short-lived re-instatement.
It is alleged the municipality effected changes in his department during his absence forcing him to take orders from a new boss.
Matters came to a head following differences between him and the Municipality’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Motshidisi Mokwena over the independence of the Supply Chain Management.
Motlou confirmed on Thursday, August 2 that he wassurprised to have been suspended twice in a row.
“I am still surprised; it was two months ago when I won the case against the municipality but immediately I am suspended again,” he said.
Insiders said Motlou no longer enjoyed senior official status. They said he is the victim of political infighting which has resulted in someone else getting his job.
“He was stripped of his power of delegation,” the insider said.
Municipal spokesman Gino Alberts said on Friday, July 27 the matter was now being dealt with by the office of the Mayor and the Municipal manager.
“It is true that he has been suspended but the matter is still between the employer and employee. We are not in a position to talk about this matter before it has been finalised,” he said. Although Alberts could not give reasons for Motlou’s suspension, a source close to the case said: “He is suspected of granting his friends business from which he gets a certain percentage after. This is the second time he has found himself in the dock but the accusations are just unproved hearsay.”
The insider added that both Motlou and other senior officials have been targeted: “Most of the senior officials are targeted in an internal investigation to nab corrupt officials but that is a ploy to replace them.”
Alberts could not confirm the allegations. “There is nothing like that here. This matter is between employee and his employer.
That is why the municipality has suspended him with full benefits while the investigations are underway.” He believed that once the matter has been dealt with, Motlou will return to his job. “I must say that his suspension was done fairly as the first one and he understood the terms of it.”
But Public Eye has learnt that the suspension could be linked to a wider investigation launched following a damning report released by Auditor General Terrence Nombembe which revealed gross maladministration in some councils.
It is understood the decision to suspend some officials was taken at a meeting of Fezile Dabi ANC members in Parys two weeks ago.
Member of the ANC Regional Executive Council and Chief whip at Metsimaholo, Thandi Soetsang was not available for an immediate response.