Cape Town - Trade and Industry Minister
Rob Davies on Friday refuted claims that he "had a hand in" the dismissal of former Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) CEO
Nomonde Mapetla.
His office was responding in a statement to media reports that he had called for the termination of Mapetla's contract, and that his alleged involvement would be the subject of a preliminary investigation by Public Protector
Thuli Madonsela.
Davies said he had written to Madonsela reiterating that he had not instructed anybody to act against any person in the EAAB.
Furthermore, he reiterated that he had noted malicious allegations suggesting that Mapetla was dismissed by the EAAB on "his instruction and or indirect influence as unfounded, malicious and libellous".
He said he "wished to dismiss the allegations with the contempt that it (sic) deserves and categorically deny involvement and or a desired interest in having Mapetla dismissed".
The EAAB had operational independence with regard to employment matters.
As a matter of course, the minister of trade and industry would not intervene in employment-related matters.