Mali suspended until contract expires
JON HOUZET
SUSPENDED corporate services director Thandeka Mali will remain on suspension until her contract ends at the end of April, the municipality has revealed.
Mali, a controversial figure who often came under fire from local business people and opposition politicians during her five year contract, was suspended by council in September last year.
Councillors alleged Mali had neglected her duties and refused to cooperate with the council during her tenure as a director.
Among the accusations against her were that she was never present at council meetings, which is part of her job, and was still using local economic development (LED) funding after this portfolio was transferred to municipal manager Rolly Dumezweni.
Dumezweni was tasked with investigating the matter and formulating charges.
Mali's initial suspension was for 90 days, which expired in December. TotT asked for an update after the period of suspension ended but municipal spokesman Cecil Mbolekwa said the matter was sub judice.
Last week TotT was tipped off by a source that Mali was going to be paid out for the rest of her contract and receive an additional R246 000 as severance.
We asked Mbolekwa, who said: "There was a proposal for that amount from her attorneys.”
"We said we can't do that at this stage because her contract ends at the end of April.”
Mbolekwa confirmed Mali had been suspended for an additional 90 days and that it was timed to expire when her contract ended. 
He did not explain what had happened in the period in between her suspensions.
"The disciplinary process was started long ago,” he said, "but I don't know how far along in the process we are.”