Court awards Nelson Mandela Metro ex-manager who quit over bullying R3.1-million

19 May 2015 - 14:54 By RDM News Wire

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has been ordered to pay former city manager Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela R3.1-million for damages plus interest. The city has also been ordered to pay Msengana-Ndlela’s legal costs.Msengana-Ndlela recently lashed out at her city bosses‚ telling the Port Elizabeth High Court of death threats and bullying.She said her duties as city manager had been hindered by political pressure‚ interference and alleged threats of violence to such an extent that she was forced to resign‚ only five months into her contract.According to court papers Msengana-Ndlela ‚ now employed as an advisor in the office of Science and Technology minister Naledi Pandor‚ initially planned to sue the municipality for R8.624-million – the amount which she would have received had she completed her contract between March 2013 and March 2018. However‚ because she has been employed since October 2013‚ they had amended the claim.The metro‚ plagued by political infighting‚ has a history of ousting city managers before they can serve their full terms‚ since its establishment in 2000. Former municipal managers Graham Richards and Mzimasi Mangcotywa received a total of R6.3-million in payouts between them between 2002 and 2010.Yesterday‚ the ANC tried to regain its grip on the metro by naming soccer boss Danny Jordaan as the new mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. He replaces 83-year-old Ben Fihla‚ to become the municipality's fourth mayor in six years...

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