The KZN Agriculture Department says it is now ready to reinstitute disciplinary proceedings against suspended head advocate Modidima Mannya.
This follows Friday’s ruling by the Durban Labour Court, which dismissed Mannya’s application for leave to appeal his suspension.
Mannya was suspended last February by Premier S’bu Ndebele following a string of allegations of misconduct and abuse of power. He was suspended on full pay pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.
He challenged the decision in court, but in May last year the Labour Court dismissed the application with costs. Not satisfied with this, Mannya approached the courts again seeking to be granted leave to appeal the Labour Court’s earlier decision.
Once again the court ruled against him. MEC Mtholephi Mthimkhulu welcomed Friday’s decision, saying it “augurs well for the department that is already reaping the fruits of the turn-around strategy”.
“Through this decision, we will — once and for all — ensure clarity of the management of the department,” Mthimkhulu said.
Spokesman Khulekani Ntshangase said the latest ruling will “clear a way for the disciplinary process to come to its conclusion before the end of next month”.
“Mannya must be man enough to participate in this last lap of the disciplinary inquiry”. This is scheduled to start on February 2 and last a week.
Ntshangase concluded: “[The] ruling vindicates the premier and the MEC for the decision they took to suspend Advocate Mannya and haul him before the disciplinary inquiry following a report of his conduct and his treatment of the departmental officials.”
