Embattled Umgeni Water boss leaves after settlement reached
UMGENI Water chief Cyril Gamede, who was recently placed on precautionary suspension following allegations of corruption, left the water utility on Friday.
Gamede was placed on precautionary suspension two weeks ago pending an investigation initiated by Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane. This was after an anonymous whistle-blower within the organisation alleged financial mismanagement and that some board members and employees were abusing their positions to arrange tenders and jobs for their friends.
According to Umgeni Water spokesperson Shami Harichunder, another anonymous email was recently received by the utility’s board, withdrawing allegations made against Gamede, two members of the board and certain employees.
The letter said: “I realise now that this organisation has been stable for over 40 years and through my actions I could have caused irreparable damage to the reputation and the standing of this organisation.
“These letters were sent in anger; I was angry because we felt that the transformation agenda pushed by the CEO has been excluding us as minorities that are not looked after,” reads the letter.
The writer(s) of this anonymous letter also apologised for making the allegations and expressed regret for their action.
“I should have handled this internally, and in a more reconciliatory manner, without jeopardising the future of this organisation and country,” concluded the letter.
Harichunder said an agreement had been reached between the outgoing board and Gamede to leave by the end of the week.
“The terms of the settlement, which are financial in nature, will remain confidential in accordance with an agreement reached between the legal representatives of Gamede and the board of Umgeni Water,” he added.
Gamede had been on a fiveyear contract with Umgeni Water. His tenure was to have ended in August, but last year it was extended by the board for an additional two years, meaning it would have ended in August 2019.
“The negotiations were over a financial settlement for the two years by which my term had been extended because I already had a signed binding contract and I was going to take them to court if they didn’t pay,” said Gamede.
He said the board was divided on the extension and “I needed them to sort it out before they left office”.
On Friday, the board’s term also came to an end following the recent Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling which declared that extension of the term of office of board members from July 2013 to December 2017 invalid.
On the whistle-blower, Gamede said he was not angry about what happened but he was disappointed in how the matter was handled.
“The unwritten policy is that when you get information from an anonymous whistle-blower you first analyse the information to see if there is any substance but I was placed on suspension before that was done,” he added.
On how he felt about leaving Umgeni Water, Gamede said: “I can’t wallow in what has happened because I would have had a difficult time executing my duties since they made it clear that I was no longer wanted there, so now I have to move on with my life”.
Harichunder said the acting chief executive, Msizi Cele, remained resolute to ensure conclusion of this matter, including determining veracity or otherwise of the allegations, occurs as soon as practically possible.
However Gamade said he did not care about the investigation because he knew they would find him not guilty.