The cash-strapped Makana local municipality could pay suspended infrastructure director Daluxolo Mlenzana a R355,000 settlement if the council agrees.
Mlenzana was suspended in July on charges of misconduct after he allegedly increased the salary of a staffer from R788,000 to R1.1m a year without council approval.
Mlenzana was acting municipal manager at the time.
Other charges brought against him by the municipality include allegations of gross financial misconduct in respect of the appointment and payment of some companies.
In July, Mlenzana, wrote that his suspension was driven by politics and that he remained innocent until proven guilty.
Documents that will be served before the council state that Mlenzana’s lawyers, Wikus van Rensburg, have said he was prepared to settle the dispute by being paid four months’ salary, which would amount to R355,008,30.
The confidential report which The Herald has seen is set to be the subject of debate at an ordinary council meeting on January 30. In the report, attorney for the municipality Sara Blumberg wrote that the council could either proceed with the disciplinary case or pay Mlenzana the settlement.
Continuing with the disciplinary case would cost the municipality an R8,000 daily fee for the chair of the panel and about R43,000 a day for the municipality’s lawyers for the duration of the case.
“The settlement of the matter would be purely for economic reasons and in no way a reflection of our reluctance to continue with the proceedings,” Blumberg wrote.
“At this point it seems unlikely that the inquiry will conclude in less than four months.
“This is based on the current outstanding issues, delaying tactics and the availability of the chairperson and legal representation and witnesses.”
Blumberg wrote that the cost of settling the dispute on the terms of Mlenzana’s proposal would not be far removed from the likely cost of pursuing the matter to its conclusion.
Mlenzana has also been accused of delaying the case by being booked off sick.
On Monday, he declined to comment on the matter, saying it was confidential.
Municipal manager Moppo Mene said: “This is very serious matter. Disciplinary procedures are discussed by the council and we will implement whatever council decides.”
Asked if the municipality could afford to pay Mlenzana the money, Mene said: “That is a very difficult question and I cannot answer it but council can look at its options.”