By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA National Parks (SANParks) has dismissed its chief executive officer, Fundisile Mketeni following the conclusion of a disciplinary inquiry which was initiated in July 2021.
Mketeni was fired after disciplinary process found him guilty on six out of seven charges.
The probe relates to a complaint by a woman who was assaulted for allegedly refusing Mketeni’s sexual advances.
“In July 2021 the board of SANParks initiated a disciplinary process against the then CEO. The process was chaired by an independent professional, and resulted in a ruling and recommended sanction being delivered to the board in May 2022, “said Ray Thakhuli, general manager for media, PR and stakeholder relations.
He said the board met on Wednesday to deliberate on the outcomes of the disciplinary process (ruling and finding on the sanction).
“Notwithstanding the outcome of the criminal proceedings against the CEO, the board decision was based on the CEO being found guilty of six of the seven charges levelled against the CEO based on his having breached the code of ethics and business conduct policy and the disciplinary policy and procedure of SANParks.”
In line with the recommendation of the independent senior counsel who chaired the process, the board determined that the relationship between Mketeni and SANParks would be terminated with immediate effect as of June 1.
Mketeni was appointed CEO of SANParks in October 2014 on a five-year contract.