Rude remark hits staff below the belt

Manager faces disciplinary steps, union threatens legal action

DISCIPLINARY steps will be instituted against a senior communications manager in the Provincial Legislature after he called fellow staffers “assholes” at a parliamentary awards ceremony.

The National Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has also threatened further legal action after the comments made by James Retief, media and communications manager at the Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP).

Staff at an awards ceremony on August 30 were gathering for a photo when Retief made the comments.

Matthys Odendal, spokesperson for the WCPP, said in response that steps would be taken in terms of the WCPP’s disciplinary procedures, based on the incident.

“Mr Retief, approached by then-acting secretary Tshepiso Nage about the matter, immediately acknowledged wrongdoing and on the same day, August 30, at 3.37pm, sent an unconditional apology to all,” Odendal said.

He also said the speaker, Sharna Fernandez, was informed of the incident.

Nehawu regional secretary Baxolise Mali said they were disturbed by Retief’s comments.

“Our members within the WCPP have informed us (we don’t doubt their version) that during an attempt to take a group photo, James Retief referred to staff members who were potentially inattentive as ‘assholes’,” a letter to WCPP secretary Gilbert Lawrence read.

Several staffers, including senior members, told the Cape Argus of the incident. Their names have been withheld.

“The alleged communication took place in the presence of acting secretary Royston Hindley, deputy secretary for procedural services Thespiso Nage, managers, staff and representatives from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The silence by Royston Hindley on this matter further creates the impression that this is the norm, and acceptable conduct by managers against staff members,” he said.

Mali said Retief ’s actions were proof of a powerful actor within the WCPP who is of the belief he can be a bully and behave above the basic rules.

“The union is well informed that this action of Mr Retief is not new, because he often uses derogatory terms with staff in his style of communication, but this time we refuse to allow such behaviour to continue without consequences – regardless of who the perpetrator may be,” Mali said.

Retief sent out an apology to staff members, but Mali said the apology was merely communicated to absolve the WCPP from any further action.

“His response was vague and the general apology to staff members was not genuine, but a calculated move to absolve him and the leadership of the institution from any further action. We call on the secretary to take formal action against James Retief because anything less would be correctly viewed as the protection of the ‘Holy Cow’ of Communications,” Mali said in the strongly worded letter.

Pierre Uys, ANC-chief whip in the legislature said: “We know staff work under major pressure and something like this is totally uncalled for. The speaker and secretary, must come out strong against this,” Uys said.

DA chief whip in the legislature Mark Wiley said he was not aware of the incident and therefore declined to comment.