Dropping of charges in RIM case queried

THE Robben Island Museum (RIM) council’s announcement, that it has discontinued the disciplinary process and withdrawn all the charges against two executives – who were investigated for alleged mismanagement – has been condemned as lacking in transparency.

Standing committee on cultural affairs and sport chairperson Reagen Allen (DA) queried the process followed, leading to the halting of the process.

Earlier this month. after an investigation and written report of legal advice furnished to the RIM council, which sustained a prima facie case for disciplinary steps, charges of misconduct were brought against two – as yet unnamed – RIM officials, and, according to council chairperson Khensani Maluleke, it was contemplated a disciplinary inquiry would ensue on June 21. On Wednesday, Maluleke said: “Pursuant to the receipt of certain documentation submitted to the investigators by the employees’ representatives and the assessment of those documents against the evidence expected from witnesses to testify on the council’s behalf, the council took further legal advice.

“On the basis of that advice, the council took the decision to discontinue the disciplinary process and issue the employees with notices, in terms of which they were advised of the withdrawal of the charges,” said Maluleke.

Allen said: “It is rather shocking that the RIM council came to this conclusion following no transparency around the report. To this day, we have no idea what the contents of the report are… We hope that the executive summary will provide some form of clarity on what has transpired… We still need answers from the RIM council,” said Allen.