The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) this week suspended its company secretary, Advocate Dali Mbelane, for obstructing investigations.
The corporation’s board chairman Nhlanganiso Dladla said Mbelane was suspended on Wednesday for obstructing the team tasked with reviewing his department – the company secretariat – as commissioned by the board.
This, said Dladla, had compromised governance structures within the corporation.
The high-profile suspension came the day it emerged that another top official from ECDC had approached the office of the premier to intervene in the Mandela funeral fund scandal.
He is said to have asked premier Phumulo Masualle to stave off charges relating to the scandal being reinstated against him.
Masualle’s chief of staff LungeloMadlingozi confirmed that Sandile Sentwa had contacted his office after rumours that the premier had stopped, or was planning to intervene in, the matter against Sentwa.
Madlingozi said Sentwa had approached him and not the premier directly.
“ called me and related what he has experienced as you say. I then said it’s important that he writes to me so that I can have his complaint on record.
“I checked my e-mails even during the weekend and there was nothing from him.
“I doubt there is proof that the premier intervened. It’s a matter in which the MEC for economic development should intervene if necessary. Even I did not take a specific position,” said Madlingozi.
Sentwa was demoted earlier this year for his role in disbursing millions for the Mandela funeral without board approval.
Sources within ECDC have told the Dispatch that the board wanted to reinstate Sentwa as chief financial officer, but this would lead to them recharging him.
He had earlier been demoted from the CFO position following allegations that he and his former boss Sitembele Mase, disbursed ECDC funds to pay service providers for Mandela’s funeral without board approval.
The saga resulted in Mase’s dismissal.
Sentwa said he would not comment. ECDC ignored questions specific to Sentwa.
Instead the board issued a statement confirming Mbelane’s suspension, who it said was being investigated for serious misconduct and gross insubordination.
“ECDC has taken a decision to place the company secretary, Advocate Dalubuhle Mbelani on paid precautionary suspension with immediate effect pending the finalisation of an internal investigation process,” said Dladla
“The investigation will look into alleged … gross negligence in discharging the duties of the company secretary function thereby compromising the effective and efficient functioning of the corporation and its governance structures.”
Mbelane’s suspension comes after he and Sentwa this year clashed with ECDC acting CEO Reggie Naidoo, who himself has a cloud hanging over him over an unpaid ECDC loan of R125000.
Last month, the Dispatch reported that Mbelane and Naidoo locked horns over much of the year, tussling for control of ECDC’s legal department.
Sentwa recently claimed Naidoo had victimised him when he refused to manipulate a R20-million information technology system tender in favour of a company belonging to people believed to be known to Naidoo.
ECDC secretary suspended
The corporation’s board chairman Nhlanganiso Dladla said Mbelane was suspended on Wednesday for obstructing the team tasked with reviewing his department – the company secretariat – as commissioned by the board.
This, said Dladla, had compromised governance structures within the corporation.
The high-profile suspension came the day it emerged that another top official from ECDC had approached the office of the premier to intervene in the Mandela funeral fund scandal.
He is said to have asked premier Phumulo Masualle to stave off charges relating to the scandal being reinstated against him.
Masualle’s chief of staff LungeloMadlingozi confirmed that Sandile Sentwa had contacted his office after rumours that the premier had stopped, or was planning to intervene in, the matter against Sentwa.
Madlingozi said Sentwa had approached him and not the premier directly.
“ called me and related what he has experienced as you say. I then said it’s important that he writes to me so that I can have his complaint on record.
“I checked my e-mails even during the weekend and there was nothing from him.
“I doubt there is proof that the premier intervened. It’s a matter in which the MEC for economic development should intervene if necessary. Even I did not take a specific position,” said Madlingozi.
Sentwa was demoted earlier this year for his role in disbursing millions for the Mandela funeral without board approval.
Sources within ECDC have told the Dispatch that the board wanted to reinstate Sentwa as chief financial officer, but this would lead to them recharging him.
He had earlier been demoted from the CFO position following allegations that he and his former boss Sitembele Mase, disbursed ECDC funds to pay service providers for Mandela’s funeral without board approval.
The saga resulted in Mase’s dismissal.
Sentwa said he would not comment. ECDC ignored questions specific to Sentwa.
Instead the board issued a statement confirming Mbelane’s suspension, who it said was being investigated for serious misconduct and gross insubordination.
“ECDC has taken a decision to place the company secretary, Advocate Dalubuhle Mbelani on paid precautionary suspension with immediate effect pending the finalisation of an internal investigation process,” said Dladla
“The investigation will look into alleged … gross negligence in discharging the duties of the company secretary function thereby compromising the effective and efficient functioning of the corporation and its governance structures.”
Mbelane’s suspension comes after he and Sentwa this year clashed with ECDC acting CEO Reggie Naidoo, who himself has a cloud hanging over him over an unpaid ECDC loan of R125000.
Last month, the Dispatch reported that Mbelane and Naidoo locked horns over much of the year, tussling for control of ECDC’s legal department.
Sentwa recently claimed Naidoo had victimised him when he refused to manipulate a R20-million information technology system tender in favour of a company belonging to people believed to be known to Naidoo.
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