Chair of the Robben Island Museum Board, Professor Saths Cooper, was questioned by the committee over the removal of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Karabo Ramela, after it emerged that he had allegedly lied about his credentials.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture grilled the Robben Island Museum (RIM) board over the appointment and removal of the Chief Financial Officer when they received a briefing on the museum’s annual performance plan.
Chair of the Robben Island Museum Board, Professor Saths Cooper, along with several RIM officials, were questioned by the committee over the removal of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Karabo Ramela, after it emerged that he had allegedly lied about his credentials.
Cooper had told the committee that Ramela had been suspended immediately after the matter was brought to them.
“The CFO was suspended immediately. Thereafter, the senior manager resigned and served notice on sick leave; the management accountant resigned and left within five days.
“Three key finance positions then became vacant within a matter of days, and immediately after the conclusion of the disciplinary, we advertised for a CFO, who is the current incumbent, and that is the filler position,” Cooper said.
When asked if they are taking action against the CFO, Cooper explained that they have sought to recoup the salary they earned while employed by RIM.
“We have moved for civil action to recoup, not only the costs owed to us, but also his entire salary, from the time he fraudulently uttered his qualifications.”
With regards to the other officials, Cooper explained that fraud charges have been laid in regard to the ticketing process. Previously, it has been reported that thousands of rand of payments by tour operators were fraudulently diverted into a private bank account.
“I mentioned earlier that there was a disciplinary underway, but there's also criminal charges laid. Our position on this is that fraud, irrespective of employment status or other status, should be prosecuted through the SAPS channels.”
Chair of the Robben Island Museum Board, Professor Saths Cooper.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
Member of the portfolio committee, Tebogo Letsie, said that it does not make sense for the board, which appointed the CFO with the misrepresented qualifications, are absorbing themselves from the problem.
“The fiduciary responsibility indicates that you take that glory when the institution does well, but you also take the fall when the institution is not doing well. So the entire board, the previous board that appointed the previous CEO (Abigail Thulare), there must be consequence management on them.
“We are asking the department, with the ministry, to see to it that we get to the bottom of this thing, that those board members, because while some of them are not appointed now, they are probably appointed somewhere.
“It's your fiduciary responsibility to make sure that public funds are protected.”
Letsie also commented on the issue of not having leadership stability, as the Acting CEO, Dr Jonty Tshipa, “now is seconded from the department to try and build stability, but if you listen to him, his hands are tied... He can't do anything”.
“Sometimes, we’re even cognisant of the fact that if we blame them, who were sent there to do one or two things, they've been given strict terms of reference. I think we must have a conversation with the minister as soon as possible.”
The committee also heard of a break-in a few months ago where laptops were taken, and they have instituted a full investigation into it.
“We have instituted an investigation into that. There's a full investigation, and there are processes that are underway, which we will get the full report on next month,” Cooper said.
He explained that the RIM executives have instituted an investigation into the matter, and also into the recovery of information that was on the stolen laptops. Cooper did later specify that the break-in, which occurred, was not on the island.
theolin.tembo@inl.co.za