Pikitup MD on special leave
JOBURG – Amanda Nair's special leave continues as an internal hearing is expected to get underway.
Amanda Nair, the controversial managing director of Pikitup, is still on special leave.
According to Pikitup spokesperson, Jacky Mashapu, Nair took voluntary special leave two months ago. She is accused of corruption by the South African Municipal Workers Union and, in March this year, the union delivered a dossier of allegations against her to the City of Joburg Group Risk and Assurance Services.
Independent auditors were appointed to investigate the allegations and have released a report into their findings. On 7 July, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure Services in the City, Matshidiso Mfikoe released a statement which outlined some of the findings.
The report identified weaknesses in internal policies and controls within the utility which resulted in actions that were not disclosed to the Pikitup board. It also identified some wrongdoings in both human resource and financial management, and Mfikoe said appropriate action would be taken against the individuals involved.
In addition to the findings of the independent investigation, the board, in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, identified other matters of non-compliance and wrongdoing and appropriate action would also be taken against the individuals involved.
An internal enquiry will get underway but Mashapu could not give information about when this will happen.
“The overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the company, including compliance with local government legislation and regulations and Pikitup policies resides with the [managing director] who reports and accounts to the board. The board has accordingly informed [managing director], Ms Nair, that she is required to attend an enquiry in terms of section 188A of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 to deal with the evidence concerning the allegations and to give her an opportunity to respond thereto,” Mfikoe said.
Meanwhile, Lungile Dhlamini, the managing director of Joburg Water, has been appointed as acting managing director of Pikitup until further notice. “He has an excellent track record at Joburg Water and will bring his expertise and experience to bear in working with the board, management and staff at Pikitup to address the weaknesses that have been identified,” read a statement from Mfikoe’s office.
Read more:
Pikitup puts contingency measures in place due to strike
Solution to striking Pikitup workers
