By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The CEO of South African coal miner Exxaro Resources , Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, has resigned with immediate effect.
Tsengwa submitted her resignation in a letter seen by Fullview.
She said she would not subject herself to a defamatory process with a predetermined outcome.
Tsengwa received a charge sheet that accused her of conflict of interest and breaches of duty of good faith, she said in the letter.
In December last year, Tsengwa was placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of a probe into allegations relating to workplace conduct and governance practices.
Early this week, the Gauteng Division of the High Court heard an urgent bid by Tsengwa to fast-track her December 2024 suspension hearing. The court struck her case off the roll for lack of urgency.
The urgent bid was a result of Tsengwa approaching the court, arguing that her suspension was illegal on the grounds that the board of Exxaro overstepped its powers by placing her on suspension while there was no disciplinary hearing pending.
Tsengwa has been Exxaro’s CEO since 2022 and has a career in mining spanning 20 years.
The resignation comes as Exxaro looks to further diversify away from coal. After a failed attempt to buy a copper mine, the company is considering investing in manganese.