By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Prasa Board has announced that it is placing its CEO Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews on “precautionary suspension.”
The board met on Thursday to consider an “alleged sensitive matter” of a security breach and other contractual obligations associated with Matthews’ employment contract, according to its statement. It did not give further details on the matter.
“By consensus, the board resolved that [Matthews] should be placed on precautionary suspension to allow detailed probing of the matter at hand to be concluded in his absence,” the statement read.
“The Board will endeavour to conclude the matter at hand expeditiously in the best interest of all parties involved,” it said.
An acting group CEO is yet to be appointed, but the board has said that it will make sure that daily operations of the organisation are not affected.
Matthews was appointed CEO in February, following years of leadership instability at the entity. He is chairperson of the Ports Regulator and was previously a councillor at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).
He replaced Thandeka Mabija, the former Head of human resources who was appointed as acting CEO in 2019 after Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula fired Prasa board and then acting CEO, Nkosinathi Sishi.
Matthews had vowed to rebuild and repair the organisation, following years of mismanagement.