Durban — Last week, Commissioner Thabang Mampane resigned from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), citing political interference. A week later, chief operating officer (COO) Philemon Letwaba dumped the commission over what he described as an “intolerable abuse of power” by the board.
Letwaba, in his two-page resignation letter addressed to board member Beryl Ferguson, stated that his employment at the NLC over an almost five-year period had been nothing short of tumultuous.
“During my employment, I had been placed on suspension three times, excluding this last attempt by the NLC to place me on precautionary suspension and institute disciplinary proceedings against me ─ yet again.
“The NLC has never been able to successfully find me guilty of the charges which it has repeatedly brought against me. I have, in the utmost good faith, attempted to fulfil my duties to the best of my ability despite the persistent attempts by the NLC to thwart my ability to do so over the period of employment.
“However, the NLC’s latest tactic to institute disciplinary action against me has made my employment at the NLC intolerable. At the outset, I point out that the charges against me in the current disciplinary proceedings are the same charges which I was previously charged within the disciplinary proceedings before the chairperson, Adv Erasmus SC.
“I had been acquitted on those charges and the NLC now seeks to effectively have a re-hearing of those matters which I am advised is impermissible as it amounts to ‘double jeopardy’.”
Letwaba mentioned that despite the engagements between his lawyers and the board, setting out why the decision to place him on precautionary suspension and to institute disciplinary action against him was “irrational, unlawful and unconstitutional” the NLC had nonetheless proceeded with both decisions.
“This sinister approach is untenable. I had attempted to alert the NLC to the misgivings I have had in these proceedings, which affect my livelihood. This cannot be taken lightly and I believe that I am entitled, at all costs, to protect my livelihood and voice my concerns that seriously impact me in these proceedings.
“It is also telling that the NLC does little to defend its conduct but in a sense threatens me by contending that my concerns are ‘detrimental’ to the relationship with the NLC.”
Furthermore, he accused the board of leaking information in respect of the disciplinary process against him to the media and said this seriously affected the values upon which an employer-employee relationship is based, particularly that of honesty and confidentiality.
“The reality is that the conduct by the NLC mentioned in this letter has indeed made my employment at the NLC intolerable. Accordingly, I do not foresee I will be able to continue my duties as COO at the NLC undisturbed and unhindered by the conduct of the NLC,” Letwaba’s resignation letter read.
On Monday last week, Mampane, who had been with the NLC for over 10 years, tendered her resignation and claimed that political interference and efforts to capture the commission had decided her to leave the multibillion-rand institution.
The board’s Beryl Ferguson did not provide comment. Previously, she said she was not authorised to speak to the media about internal matters at the NLC.
Daily News