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The Umngeni-Uthukela Water board paid R125 000 and R77 000 for a single official’s trip to New York, which included a marathon run.One official was suspended for refusing to approve the trip.The entity blamed this refusal for the costs that ultimately ballooned to more than R200 000. The Pietermaritzburg High Court has scotched the Umngeni-Uthukela Water (UUW) board’s decision to suspend its chief governance and compliance officer, Sibusiso Madonsela, ordering that he be reinstated immediately. The Sunday Times recently reported that Madonsela was suspended by UUW chief executive officer Sandile Khoza after he refused to approve a high-cost “sponsorship” for his colleague in supply chain, Zandile Mhlongo, to take part in the 2024 New York Marathon. Khoza had taken it upon himself to approve the trip, which reportedly cost about R200 000 for flights and accommodation in New York. On Thursday, 31 October, the court directed that the board and, by extension, Water Minister Pemmy Majodina, who are cited as respondents one and two, must reverse the decision to suspend Madonsela. The court ordered that the suspension is “unlawful and of no force and effect”. READ | KZN water entity axes chairperson over undeclared business interests The court directed that the water utility must permit Madonsela to immediately resume his position as chief governance and compliance officer. The state-owned water entity was ordered to pay the costs of the application on Scale C, including the costs of two counsel. In court proceedings that concluded on Monday, presided over by Acting Judge Andrew Matlamela, Khoza claimed that the costs of the trip increased because Madonsela failed to agree to make the decision within his remit. Khoza accused Madonsela of leaking the scandalous story to the media. Madonsela cried foul over a perceived constructive dismissal. He posited that it was curious he would only be charged now, when the trip happened more than a year ago. READ | KZN municipality cuts ties with uMngeni-uThukela Water over R600m debt dispute Meanwhile, earlier this month, DA MP Stephen Moore wrote to Majodina, demanding that she investigate the R125 000 first-class New York marathon trip; and the board’s “excess hours” payouts, where directors paid themselves R2.6 million during the June 2024 ministerial transition, which was objected to by a previous minister; and allegations of conflicting interests. “The investigation must also cover excess hours payouts, conflicts of interest, nepotism, and other governance failures at UUW,” Moore said. “Staff of the entity are also being allegedly targeted, while board-level decisions at the centre of the allegations remain unchallenged. The precautionary suspension of [Madonsela] in this context risks the perception of scapegoating and a chilling effect on internal accountability.” Moore demanded that Majodina’s investigation must include UUW sponsoring an official to the New York Marathon, including a R125 000.00 first-class airfare and additional expenses. Moore also wanted officials to be investigated for conflict of interest, as well as overpayments to board members.
