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Business Times reports that the suspended CEO of coal miner Exxaro, Nombasa Tsengwa, has questioned the objectivity of an independent investigation by law firm ENS into allegations against her of corporate bullying.
Tsengwa's lawyer Eddie Claasen on Friday said his client would soon “expose the agenda being served by her unjust suspension”. He added: “She has little confidence in the objectivity of the investigation, which ENS, who also act as Exxaro’s attorneys, are presently conducting. That too shall be revealed in the fullness of time.” This argument was also advanced in the North Gauteng High Court, where Tsengwa sought to have the suspension overturned and described the ENS investigation as a witch hunt. Tsengwa was placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an independent investigation into allegations related to workplace conduct and governance issues. Several former Exxaro employees accused Tsengwa, who is also president of the Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) and deputy chair of the Energy Council, of having instilled a culture of fear at the company. At the time of her suspension, nine top executives had either quit in frustration, been fired or placed on suspension. One of the executives who resigned described working under Tsengwa as “the most horrifying time of my career at Exxaro”. On Thursday in court, Tsengwa argued for the suspension to be lifted and for the matter to be heard on an urgent basis. Petrus Louw SC, on behalf of Tsengwa, told judge Mncedisi Khumalo the board was “misguided” and the suspension was unlawful and should be overturned. Judgment on whether the application was urgent has been reserved for Monday.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Times (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page