R5-million lawsuit has become the next battle between the former board of directors of Amathole district municipality’s economic development agency Aspire and ADM mayor Nomasikizi Konza.
Letters of demand were sent to Konza’s office on Monday by attorneys representing the former board members.
They are demanding that Konza pay R5-million to them for defamation and also issue a public apology.
Konza was called to a meeting three weeks ago with ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) and former Aspire board at Calata House, the provincial ANC’s headquarters in King William’s Town
The lawsuit stems from the meeting where Konza allegedly told PEC members that the board had “looted” R5-million from Aspire.
Former board chairman Vanguard Mkhosana told the Daily Dispatch this week: “We are suing the mayor partly because there were false and awkward accusations levelled against us by her that we are a group of people who served the board with the aim of committing corruption that led to a R5-million loss in Aspire,” he said.
In response, ADM spokesman Siyabulela Makhunga said: “The Aspire report and related issues will be tabled before council today. The executive mayor is not at liberty to comment on Aspire related issues until such time that council consider and discuss such matters.”
The letter of demand to Konza written by HS Toni Attorneys and seen by the Dispatch, states:
“Our instruction are that on numerous occasions you have uttered a statement in public meetings that our clients have looted public funds at Aspire since the suspension and subsequently disciplinary action against its former CEO .
“The said statement was a gross misrepresentation of facts and was made with the sole purpose of wooing the ADM council and the public at large that our clients took disciplinary measures against CEO for the purpose other than protecting the interests of Aspire, to wit, for the purpose of looting Aspire’s financial resources.”
Mnqeta was suspended in December on charges of misconduct and for bringing Aspire into disrepute.
The CEO parted ways with the agency in June following an out-of-court settlement.
The term of the board expired in July, paving the way for council to rehire Mnqeta as CEO of Aspire. She took up the position on Wednesday.
Ex-board sues ADM mayor
Letters of demand were sent to Konza’s office on Monday by attorneys representing the former board members.
They are demanding that Konza pay R5-million to them for defamation and also issue a public apology.
Konza was called to a meeting three weeks ago with ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) and former Aspire board at Calata House, the provincial ANC’s headquarters in King William’s Town
The lawsuit stems from the meeting where Konza allegedly told PEC members that the board had “looted” R5-million from Aspire.
Former board chairman Vanguard Mkhosana told the Daily Dispatch this week: “We are suing the mayor partly because there were false and awkward accusations levelled against us by her that we are a group of people who served the board with the aim of committing corruption that led to a R5-million loss in Aspire,” he said.
In response, ADM spokesman Siyabulela Makhunga said: “The Aspire report and related issues will be tabled before council today. The executive mayor is not at liberty to comment on Aspire related issues until such time that council consider and discuss such matters.”
The letter of demand to Konza written by HS Toni Attorneys and seen by the Dispatch, states:
“Our instruction are that on numerous occasions you have uttered a statement in public meetings that our clients have looted public funds at Aspire since the suspension and subsequently disciplinary action against its former CEO .
“The said statement was a gross misrepresentation of facts and was made with the sole purpose of wooing the ADM council and the public at large that our clients took disciplinary measures against CEO for the purpose other than protecting the interests of Aspire, to wit, for the purpose of looting Aspire’s financial resources.”
Mnqeta was suspended in December on charges of misconduct and for bringing Aspire into disrepute.
The CEO parted ways with the agency in June following an out-of-court settlement.
The term of the board expired in July, paving the way for council to rehire Mnqeta as CEO of Aspire. She took up the position on Wednesday.
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