The chief executive officer of the Amathole District Municipality’s development agency, Aspire, has been suspended.
Nokulunga Mnqeta, who receives an annual salary package of about R2-million, received her letter of suspension last Friday. The board gave her two days to explain why she should not be suspended.
Her suspension on “full pay” was effected on Monday when she failed to convince the board why it should not suspend her.
The CEO faces charges including misconduct and gross insubordination. The decision is related to an incident three months ago when she failed to secure the jobs of 26 workers at the Mthonjeni Arts Centre in Hamburg.
The centre, which has since been shut down according to the Aspire board, has been a beacon of hope for families living in the impoverished area.
It was designed to allow artists to showcase their work to tourists. When the ADM council tried to rescue the situation by setting aside R1.7-million to ensure that the workers retained their jobs, Mnqeta allegedly failed to implement the council resolution.
While she received a bonus of more than R200000 last week, employees at the arts centre face a bleak Christmas.
Mnqeta confirmed yesterday that she had been suspended. She has been barred from entering Aspire’s premises.
“You need to ask the board about my suspension,” she said.
One board member described her as the organisation’s “biggest expense” due to her salary.
“She earns more than the executive mayor and the municipal manager of the Amathole District Municipality,” said the board member.
Mnqeta said: “My salary was negotiated prior to me joining the organisation and it is based on what I earned before joining the organisation.”
Mnqeta told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that she had not been aware of the council resolution. “At the time of leaving my office on Monday the money you say was set aside to rescue the jobs of Mthonjeni employees was not in the bank account of Aspire so I do not what you are talking about,” she said.
The Daily Dispatch has seen a copy of the CEO’s suspension letter signed by chairman of the board Dr Vanguard Mkosana.
“The Board has decided to suspend you with immediate effect as it is of the opinion that your presence at the workplace might jeopardise any investigation into the alleged misconduct.”
Mkosana admitted yesterday that Mnqeta was earning in the region of R2-million.
“With regard to her suspension I cannot say much because it is now a subject of the investigation. We will release a report when that process has been finalised,” he said.
ADM spokesman Siyabulela Makhunga said the municipality was not informed about the fallout between the CEO and members of the board.
“The municipal manager has not received a formal report from the board on the matter. It will be therefore premature for him to comment at this stage.” – zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Official paid R2m a year suspended
Nokulunga Mnqeta, who receives an annual salary package of about R2-million, received her letter of suspension last Friday. The board gave her two days to explain why she should not be suspended.
Her suspension on “full pay” was effected on Monday when she failed to convince the board why it should not suspend her.
The CEO faces charges including misconduct and gross insubordination. The decision is related to an incident three months ago when she failed to secure the jobs of 26 workers at the Mthonjeni Arts Centre in Hamburg.
The centre, which has since been shut down according to the Aspire board, has been a beacon of hope for families living in the impoverished area.
It was designed to allow artists to showcase their work to tourists. When the ADM council tried to rescue the situation by setting aside R1.7-million to ensure that the workers retained their jobs, Mnqeta allegedly failed to implement the council resolution.
While she received a bonus of more than R200000 last week, employees at the arts centre face a bleak Christmas.
Mnqeta confirmed yesterday that she had been suspended. She has been barred from entering Aspire’s premises.
“You need to ask the board about my suspension,” she said.
One board member described her as the organisation’s “biggest expense” due to her salary.
“She earns more than the executive mayor and the municipal manager of the Amathole District Municipality,” said the board member.
Mnqeta said: “My salary was negotiated prior to me joining the organisation and it is based on what I earned before joining the organisation.”
Mnqeta told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that she had not been aware of the council resolution. “At the time of leaving my office on Monday the money you say was set aside to rescue the jobs of Mthonjeni employees was not in the bank account of Aspire so I do not what you are talking about,” she said.
The Daily Dispatch has seen a copy of the CEO’s suspension letter signed by chairman of the board Dr Vanguard Mkosana.
“The Board has decided to suspend you with immediate effect as it is of the opinion that your presence at the workplace might jeopardise any investigation into the alleged misconduct.”
Mkosana admitted yesterday that Mnqeta was earning in the region of R2-million.
“With regard to her suspension I cannot say much because it is now a subject of the investigation. We will release a report when that process has been finalised,” he said.
ADM spokesman Siyabulela Makhunga said the municipality was not informed about the fallout between the CEO and members of the board.
“The municipal manager has not received a formal report from the board on the matter. It will be therefore premature for him to comment at this stage.” – zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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