Museum head's legal battle not over yet

[caption id="attachment_36700" align="alignright" width="250"] SYMBOL OF HOPE: The Memorial Flame at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu. Picture: EUGENE COETZEE[/caption]

THE problems at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha continue to spiral out of control.

Museum chief executive Bayanda Nyengule was suspended recently after asking the museum council to probe missing funds from the Department of Arts and Culture which were meant for youth development, questioning a senior manager who took leave without proper authorisation, and investigating a senior manager who allegedly stole three plasma television sets from the museum at the Bhunga building.

The TVs have since been recovered from the manager's home.

Nyengule was suspended on June 7.

His lawyer, Advocate Mxolisi Nduzulwana, said his suspension had been an unfair labour practice.

"He was doing his duties as the chief executive. We challenged his suspension in court and won the matter.

"Now we hear that he was given special leave, with the council asking him to give reasons why he should not be suspended," Nduzulwana said.

When Nyangule returned to work yesterday after his victory in court, he was given a letter putting him on special leave. "On that one we haven't got any instruction from our client to pursue, but it's contempt of court, it's challengeable," Nduzulwana said.

Council chairwoman Nozuko Yokwana could not be reached for comment.

After his suspension earlier this month, Nyengule took the matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

He appointed lawyers to fight his suspension. The matter was taken to the Labour Court in Port Elizabeth.

On June 12, the court ordered that he return to work. - Bongani Fuzile