More than a year after the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) fired its CEO, James Theledi, his appeal process against the axing has finally come to an end.
Theledi and USAASA's board reached an agreement after settlement negotiations presided over by a senior commissioner for the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
ITWeb previously reported that Theledi was axed by the agency last March, after an internal disciplinary process found him guilty of sexually harassing a senior USAASA manager. The incident occurred at the Presidential International Advisory Council on Information Society and Development meeting, in September 2008.
A legal process dragged on after his dismissal, as Theledi fought to be reinstated. In April last year, acting communications minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang rejected a ministerial appeal that Theledi had lodged.
Subsequently, in October last year, Theledi sought an interdict in the Labour Court to prevent the agency from replacing him, but his application was dismissed. His lawyer, Daniel Ramothwala, said at the time that Theledi would pursue his case at the CCMA, in November last year.
The matter has since been wrapped up, and the USAASA board has agreed to accept his resignation from June this year. However, the exact details of the settlement are protected by a confidentiality agreement, notes Ramothwala, an attorney with TG Motseto.
When contacted for comment this morning, Ramothwala expressed dismay that USAASA had issued a statement without his consent, as both parties had agreed that a joint announcement would be made. However, Ramothwala subsequently confirmed the contents of the statement with Theledi.
Moving on
Ramothwala also passed on Theledi's comments that he is happy that the matter has finally been settled so that he can pursue other interests.
“Coupled with the absence of a permanent CEO, it has rendered the organisation unable to attend to its mandate fully. As a board, we have done considerable work to alleviate the paralysis to enable operations to deal with its mandate,” notes Moahlodi.
Moahlodi adds the agency has appointed Phineas Moleele as CEO from May. Moleele previously served as acting CEO, and spent seven years with the Independent Communications Authority of SA before moving to the agency.
“We are proud to have appointed internally and have full confidence in Moleele,” says Moahlodi.
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