Observer MD fights back
MBABANE – Swazi Observer Managing Director Alpheous Nxumalo has run to court to stop his suspension by the company Board.
The court issued an interdict restraining the Board from instituting the suspension proceedings pending finalisation of the application.
"Having heard counsel for the parties, it is ordered that the First, Second and Third respondents are interdicted from suspending the applicant from his employment as Managing Director of the Swazi Observer Group of Newspapers," reads the order in part.
The respondents are Chairman Timothy Nhleko, Secretary Jameson Gule and the Board members respectively.
Nxumalo was represented by Nompumelelo Msibi from Sibusiso Shongwe and Associates.
In an interview last night, Nxumalo said he received a letter instructing him to explain why he should not be suspended for taking some decisions without notifying the Board.
The three decisions that he took are suspending two editors and a manager, hiring the services of another attorney for the company and making public statements without involving the Board.
Nxumalo said he went to court for the interdict because he felt he acted within his rights when he took all three decisions.
"These are operational issues and they have nothing to do with company policy, which the Board has been appointed to guide on," he said.
He said he could not use an attorney that was hired by the Board because he needed one that he would trust and confide in.
Nhleko was reluctant to comment when called last night and said he was busy and would not discuss the matter.
Nxumalo was served with a letter where the Board requested him to state why he should not be suspended. This happened shortly after he suspended two editors and a financial officer early in the week.
Comments
Well the board might as well forget. I am actually surprised they are so blind to see whose instructions and backing Alpheus has; if they knew they would just leave the man alone to carry out his reign of terror. The editors I could see were straying from the mandate of the Observer, that of being a propaganda machine for the state and I could see they were going to 'run aground' one of these days; and they have. Apart from degenerating into a Tabloid, that they were warned about by Pastor Shongwe the other day, they seemed to have started going on a tangent. The next thing we are going to see is the Timothy-led board being fired, mark my words. Its only a matter of time, I know the machinations of this state. If they were me, they would just resign enmass to save face. And the courts will never rule in their favour; if they want to know why, they must ask my grandmother.
July 21, 2012, 9:00 AM, Burns Dlamini (Lobhoncela) (Burnspolitics@gmail.com)
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