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Council fires its crooked manager

Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

The Greater BaPhalaborwa municipality in Limpopo yesterday fired its municipal manager, Isaiah Nyathi, over allegations of fraud and dishonesty.

Nyathi was told by the council to return its property in his possession within two days.

He was dismissed during a special meeting held in the municipal chamber. Nyathi was charged with nine irregularities, later reduced to seven.

He was found guilty on two charges of gross dishonesty and failing to perform his duties as a manager.

Nyathi was suspended in December on full pay after being found guilty of falsifying his qualifications when applying for the job of municipal manager.

It is alleged that Nyathi claimed in his CV to be in possession of an LLB degree. He joined the municipality in 2002.

It was later found that he was actually studying for the degree at the time and had not yet qualified.

According to a document from Nyathi's lawyers addressed to municipal mayor Gloria Baloyi, Nyathi was studying for the degree through the University of Limpopo, then known as the University of the North.

The document states that an unnamed secretary who filled out the CV at the time had omitted to write the word "courses" and instead wrote "degree" instead.

It also states that it should have been written in the CV that Nyathi was studying for an LLB degree and had not yet qualified.

"We realised the mistake made by the secretary, which had no effect on his appointment as he had already been appointed as head of the department with a BProc qualification when he applied for the position," claims the document.

Sowetan established that in 2004 Nyathi completed his LLB degree. The costs of the course were paid for by the municipality.

He is currently studying for a master's degree in law with the University of Limpopo.

During his suspension Nyathi received a monthly salary of R50000.

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