Johannesburg - The acting director of Pikitup has been
replaced with a permanent appointment, the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu)
said on Monday.
"Mr (Lawrence) Boya has been released of his duties as
the acting managing director (MD) of Pikitup," the union's Gauteng
organiser Menzi Luthuli said in a statement.
He welcomed the "brave decision" to not give Boya
a permanent position.
"The decision not to appoint Mr Boya does not come as a
surprise, given his track record in the Eastern Cape provincial government and
his recent arrest, relating to alleged corruption and fraud, as reported widely
in the media."
A court case is underway in which Boya, along with four
others, has been charged with defrauding the Eastern Cape health department of
about R11m.
Boya was a superintendent general in the provincial health
department at the time the crime took place.
The City of Johannesburg said it was "absolutely
untrue" that there was any scandal related to the release of Boya from his
post.
"Mr Boya was acting in the position. Applications were
put out and a suitable candidate was found," spokesperson Gabu Tugwana said.
He said the union was "taking chances" with its
allegations.
Tugwana said the court action against Boya was "not an
issue at all" during the appointment process.
"The city is not a justice department. That man had a
case related to his employment in the Eastern Cape and that investigation is
going on. It's a police matter. It has nothing to do with his activities in the
City of Johannesburg," Tugwana said.
Amanda Nair had been appointed managing director of Pikitup,
and took up her post on Monday.
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