Museum withdraws charges against pair

ROBBEN Island Museum (Rim) has discontinued the disciplinary process against two executives who were investigated for mismanagement, and withdrawn all charges against them.

Last year, the museum’s council resolved that certain allegations of mismanagement at the museum, made by the Ex-Political Prisoners’ Association, be investigated.

Following an investigation and the council receiving a report on legal advice that indicated there was a prima facie case for disciplinary steps to be taken, charges of misconduct were brought against the executives and it was contemplated that a disciplinary process would ensue on June 21 and 22.

“Pursuant to the receipt of certain documentation submitted to the investigators by the employees’ representatives, and the assessment of those documents against the evidence expected from witnesses to testify on the council’s behalf, the council took further legal advice.

“On the basis of that advice, the council took the decision to discontinue the disciplinary process and issue the employees with notices, in terms of which they were advised of the withdrawal of the charges,” Rim said.

Earlier this month, Rim said an independent investigation into 22 allegations of mismanagement had resulted in only one adverse finding.

The allegations related to, among others, abnormal staff hiring, nepotism, poor overall performance by Rim management, intellectual property theft, and poor ferry operational management.