Sipho Masombuka

Sipho Masombuka

A former municipal manager says he was accused of sexual harassment after he had raised the issue of poor work performance.

Sam Rampedi, who now heads the Limpopo department of local government and housing, told the Pretoria high court yesterday that his accuser's intention was to tarnish his name.

He said he was "extremely shocked" when communications assistant manager Thato Mocumie, 32, made allegations of sexual harassment against him when he was at the Polokwane municipality.

"Looking at these wild allegations I came to the conclusion that she had bad intentions because I had raised my concerns about her poor work performance," Rampedi said.

Mocumie claimed in court papers that Rampedi sexually harassed her on several occasions between August 2004 and April 2005.

Rampedi allegedly told Mocumie that "she belonged to him" and suggested that they have an affair though he is married and knew that she was engaged to be married.

Mocumie claimed that Rampedi accused her of poor work performance after she rejected his advances.

Rampedi is also alleged to have made derogatory observations about Mocumie's pregnancy and sexual organs.

Rampedi denied this yesterday and strongly denied having sexually harassed Mocumie.

Rampedi took the witness stand after his lawyer's application to have the civil matter thrown out of court was dismissed with costs.

He has since instituted a counterclaim of R750000 against Mocumie.