Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

The department of agriculture and environmental affairs in KwaZulu-Natal is in shambles again.

This comes after the suspension of the department's head, Modidima Mannya, barely six months after his appointment in August.

Mannya, an advocate, was appointed to turn the fortunes of the department around after the then head, Jabulani Mjwara, resigned under a cloud.

A forensic report had revealed that more than R80million was missing from the department's coffers.

Sowetan has learnt that Mannya was suspended yesterday following souring relationships between him, MEC Mtholephi Mthimkhulu and other managers.

It is alleged that Mthimkhulu and Mannya had not been on good terms for the past few months.

A source in the department said that officials had written letters to Premier S'bu Ndebele asking for his intervention.

"It appears that other managers had begun questioning Mannya's management style.

"It's alleged that he had been refusing to account to Mthimkhulu and that he had threatened to resign.

"Mannya refused to attend meetings that were called by the MEC and chief financial officer, Ndaba Ngwane," said the source.

The source said that since Mannya was appointed in August he had never cooperated with the other managers.

A number of allegations had also been levelled against him, including that some officials had failed to do their jobs properly because of victimization.

"One of the assistants in his office has been on stress leave for the past six weeks."

"The man has been very divisive. He took all powers invested in the financial officer and demanded that he must be the only signatory as part of expenditure control measures."

Department spokesman, Mbulelo Baloyi, confirmed that Mannya has been suspended following an investigation from Ndebele's office.

He said Ndebele appointed a law firm after officials complained about Mannya's leadership skills. "He was yesterday suspended after recommendations by the investigators."