By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) has confirmed the suspension of outgoing CEO Sello Hatang amid a probe into his conduct.
In a statement, the foundation of the late Mandela, said while preparing to announce Hatang’s departure following his resignation at the start of the month, it had received complaints from some staff members “in relation to his past conduct”.
The board of trustees immediately launched an investigation into this complaint, and Hatang was placed on special leave to facilitate a thorough legal process which is now underway,” the statement signed by foundation chairperson Prof. Njabulo Ndebele said, adding that it could not provide further details for now.
The foundation said it had appointed Professor Verne Harris as acting CEO until the process was finalised, adding that it was “acting firmly in line with the ethos and principles for which we are known”.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation was established in 1999 — when former statesman stepped down as South Africa’s president after a single term — and provided the base for his charitable work.
Previously Hatang was a senior manager at South Africa’s Human Rights Commission. He participated in the post-1994 transformation of the National Archives, including archival support for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and is a former Director of the South African History Archive (SAHA).
He serves on the boards of SAHA and the Open Democracy Advice Centre. He was a member of the editorial team of Nelson Mandela’s book, Conversations with Myself, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2010.