Back in - or back out?
After the verdict, national prisons commissioner Zach Modise tried to serve Nxele with a signed letter that read: "Kindly be advised that I have resolved to place you on special leave with immediate effect until further notice."Nxele refused to accept the letter and the would-be server, correctional services lawyer Joe Nxusani, left it on the court benches.Nxele was suspended in January for "gross insubordination" after he accused Modise in a Facebook post of taking his disciplinary action publicly because he was "eager to tell the world of the specific sins I'm alleged to have committed".Modise said Nxele was being disciplined for disobeying a direct order to reinstate former special projects deputy director Smangele Ngobese, who has a love child with Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, and for refusing to participate on an interview panel for several senior positions.But Nxele said there were no grounds for him to reinstate Ngobese as she had been on unauthorised leave for more than 30 consecutive days in 2012.Nxele said he ignored the lawyer's letter because "I don't know what he was trying to do".He said: "If there is any person who wants to place me on special leave, he has to advance reasons and I have to apply my mind to that."The court ruling means Nxele can resume his duties immediately, pending the reconciliation attempts at the bargaining council tomorrow. But if the matter is not resolved there, it will go to trial on June 6.Nxele said he was optimistic that the matter could be resolved amicably outside the court.He said: "I do hope that there may be an opportunity to deal with these issues amicably outside the court. The first opportunity is [tomorrow]."He said he was "itching to go back work"."I'm getting a salary, by the way, not a small salary as a senior manager in the public service. I am eager to go to work and if there are problems, my work is to solve them. I've got close to 30000 inmates and close to 7000 members of correctional services that serve under my leadership ."Correctional Services spokesman Logan Maistry confirmed that Modise had decided to place Nxele on special leave, but could not comment further as the matter is before court...
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