PHUTI MOSOMANE
The Nelson Mandela Foundation Board Chairman Professor Njabulo Ndebele says the board has summarily dismissed CEO Sello Hatang for unbecoming behaviour.
On Wednesday, the foundation said it has concluded its investigation into complaints from some employees about Hatang.
The complaints – which centred on Hatang’s personal conduct at the workplace – were received shortly after Hatang announced on May 2nd 2023 that he was resigning as CEO.
“As Mr Hatang was still serving his notice, he was placed on special leave while the complaints were independently investigated,” Ndebele said.
He said the investigation took careful consideration of the rights of the complainants and Hatang, as well as the Board’s commitment to entrenching the Foundation’s core values of respect and trust.
“After considering the outcomes of the independent investigation, and ensuring that the process had been conducted fairly and without prejudice, the Board concluded that Mr Hatang’s conduct had been unbecoming and was unacceptable for someone in his position and that he should be summarily dismissed,” he said, adding that the Board will not comment further on the specifics of the matter, save to say that it has caused much distress to the Foundation, its employees and its broader community of stakeholders.
The focus now, Ndebele said, is on ensuring continuity in the Foundation’s activities, particularly in the approach to Madiba’s birthday commemorations on the 18th of July, and on fulfilling the Foundation’s mandate of promoting Madiba’s vision of freedom and equality for all.
He said the trustees are working closely with the interim management of the Foundation to ensure a process of rebuilding staff morale after this extremely difficult episode.
The process of appointing a new CEO will begin soon.
INSIDE POLITICS
