Council fires senior manager found guilty of sexual harassment
A SENIOR manager in the City of Tshwane has been expelled by the council almost a year after he was accused of sexually harassing two female colleagues.
The Pretoria News has it on good authority that the council resolved during the in-committee meeting on Thursday to fire the implicated official.
Acting city manager Mmaseabata Mutlaneng was previously authorised by the council to appoint external investigators to further probe the sexual harassment complaints lodged by the two female subordinates.
Part of the findings of the inquiry into the matter said: “The City of Tshwane has discharged the proof on a balance of probabilities that the official is guilty as charged as contained in the charge sheet in that he made unwelcome and unacceptable remarks towards the complainant (which was) tantamount to sexual harassment.”
The council adopted the recommendations, which included that the employer must terminate the official's contract with immediate effect.
Mayor Randall Williams finalised the matter by communicating the council's decision to the implicated official.
Last year the senior official lost a Labour Court case against the metro, after he sought to interdict the municipality's disciplinary hearing against him.
The court then lamented the “tendency by senior employees seeking to avoid discipline by bringing spurious court applications”.
“Without fail, these types of applications are heavily opposed at huge costs, which more often than not dents the public purse.
“In order to stamp out this growing tendency punitive measures must become commonplace in this court,” said the court.
Asked to comment on the council resolution, the beleaguered official said: “My legal team has not received anything to the effect. Send proof of this discussion. This is news to me; we have been waiting for the outcome since three weeks ago.”
The metro's chief of staff, Jordan Griffiths, said: “The city will be formally communicating on this process on Monday (today).”
The SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) in Tshwane welcomed the council's decision to terminate the official's contract.
Union secretary, Mpho Tladinyane, said: “This was after a number of female employees had complained to the union, alleging sexual harassment.
“The council appointed an independent team to investigate the matter and subsequently agreed with its recommendations to terminate his services.”
Tladinyane said the employer had a responsibility to create a good and safe working environment for its employees.
“The union views gender-based violence as a scourge which cannot be allowed in the workplace.
“Samwu is also worried about allegations of sexual harassment against the speaker of council.
“We welcome a council decision to convene a special meeting and engage on the matter.
“The union views allegations of sexual harassment in a very serious light that warrant immediate attention,” he said.
The ANC women's caucus in Tshwane, which had previously been vocal about the matter, has so far been silent on the outcome.
“As the ANC women's caucus, we relentlessly campaign against anyone who seeks to undermine the struggles of women against any form of abuse,” it said initially.