Lehlohonolo Motšoari
The Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) will soon hire a new chief executive officer (CEO) after its former CEO, Thelejane Thelejane, inexplicably left the company despite being cleared of sexual assault charges.
An internal investigation commissioned by the water utility has found Thelejane innocent of misconduct for allegedly sexually assaulting a fellow staff member, Lineo Moqasa, who is WASCO’s public relations manager earlier this year.
Thelejane initially took a three-month leave from work in the immediate aftermath of the sexual assault allegations but has now permanently parted ways with WASCO.
Falla Seboko, a member of WASCO’s board of directors, has been the acting CEO since Thelejane went on leave.
Stephen Monyamane, the chairperson of WASCO’s board of directors, announced Thelejane’s departure after they reached an amicable solution with him during a meeting held earlier this month.
Monyamane indicated that the investigation was conducted by May and May Attorneys law firm.
“Based on the report, the CEO was found to have no wrongdoing, there were seven claims (of sexual assault); on all seven, no wrong-doing was found,” he said during a press conference.
Regardless of the findings, Monyamane stressed that: “The office of CEO is an office of trust. It is an office where that person is a public figure, and he is the image of WASCO. So, after the completion of the investigation, we held a meeting with him (Thelejane) to sensitise him about the situation, and we made him aware that the public was going to form an opinion of him, thus we had to reach the end of our ties.”
With Thelejane leaving mid-contract, Monyamane could not divulge any further details on their separation, as the matter was now being investigated by the police for possible criminal prosecution.
On the fate of Moqasa, the chairperson said: “Based on the legal advice and available documents, we found that she was dismissed by the chairman of the board, which is not procedural. Secondly, her punishment was deemed too harsh for her insubordination charges. She was therefore restored and reinstated to her original position by the right authority.”
Monyamane also indicated that vacant executive positions within the company were soon going to be filled following the advertising of the job openings.
