According to the Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (Imatu), Mahlomola Seleso was allegedly fired through dubious means, adding to a list of targeted managers at the entity. Imatu's Mangaung representative, Fosi Tsie, alleges Seleso was fired to cover up the failures of the utility’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Malefane Sekoboto, who was found wanting over an irregular tender. 

He says the Free State High Court earlier made an adverse court finding against the utility over a tender awarded irregularly, and their client was used as the scapegoat. Tsie says they are aware that the manager was approached to take the fall and when he refused, the CEO subjected him to unlawful disciplinary proceedings.

Tsie further alleges that during the arbitration, following a dismissal, the entity then brought three private attorneys, one senior and two others, to be present in the arbitration.

“In terms of the collective bargaining council's disciplinary procedure, the employee has a right to representation, has a right to be present at the hearing, and to an impartial presiding officer. So the accused was ill on the day of the hearing and he was not available. There was a medical certificate to prove that but the procedure continued in his absence anyway. So they decided to fire him. But what puzzled me was that they just sent us an email with no explanation. Remember, in law you're supposed to tell the people the verdict, to say I reached this verdict because of 1 and 2,” Tsie adds.

In 2021, the court's two judges, Judge Johannes Daffue and Judge Joseph Mhlambi, ruled that “the decision of the first respondent to award a Tender CD37/2020: Provision of Security Services (guarding, armed reaction/response ) including supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and the maintenance of security equipment (“the tender”) to the second respondent, is declared constitutionally invalid, reviewed and set aside. The service level agreement concluded between the first respondent and second respondent pursuant to the tender award in favour of the second respondent is set aside.”

OFM News previously reported that an employee of Centlec flagged the institution's dealings with its management. According to co-worker representative, Ishmael Oganne, who is representing another manager on precautionary suspension, those who have different views of Sekoboto are being targeted and dealt with through dubious means.

ALSO READ: 'Senior managers targeted at Centlec' – WATCH

“I want South Africans to understand that Centlec is an entity and is using taxpayer’s money. We have debated in the hearing to say the presiding officer is biased and we have read his duties and even his appointment letter. His appointment letter is far from the time limit of the collective agreement. Now he said to us inside the hearing that if we want him to recuse himself we must write him a letter and so we did but in his response, he told us that he is God and refused to recuse himself and the letter had no Centlec cover letter, so how is this authentic?" Oganne said.

This is merely a few months after its battle with ousted Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Hlonelwa Nkomo.

ALSO READ: Ousted Centlec CFO interdicted from holding ‘tell-all’ media briefing

The utility earlier suspended Amelia Makara for allegedly putting the institution into disrepute. Makara is allegedly charged with sharing information with the media.

ALSO READ: Centlec yet again embroiled in controversy

In July 2022, OFM News reported that the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) Coordinator, Paseka Nompondo, told Journalists at a media briefing that plans were afoot to dissolve the board. This follows a slew of controversies which beset the power utility.

Asked for a comment, Centlec spokesperson, Lele Mamatu, declined to comment.

OFM News