The suspension of Nelson Mandela Bay spokesperson Kupido Baron has been lifted, seven months after he was ordered to stay home.
Baron was suspended in April after he criticised former acting city manager Noxolo Nqwazi for what he claimed were unfair labour practices.
He also attacked the competence of a colleague in his Facebook post, resulting in him being accused of making “disparaging remarks”.
Baron was suspended on April 9 after sharing his thoughts on the municipality in a March 31 social media post, alleging that black people were given preference over others when it came to opportunities within the administration.
Just two weeks earlier, Baron had been appointed to lead the municipality’s communications workstream on Covid-19 but was replaced by another spokesperson, Mthubanzi Mniki.
“Besides my 15 years at the municipality, years in newsrooms, journalism qualification and a postgraduate diploma in digital business, the only distinguishing characteristics from me are his darker pigmentation and ability to speak Xhosa,” Baron wrote on his Facebook page.
“Sadly such shallowness and shortsightedness became a norm in recent times and hampers visionary leadership at all levels of the [institution].
“A reality I learnt to live with and despise with the contempt it deserves.
“I was unceremoniously replaced by a lesser-experienced and hopelessly ill-equipped official [that] morning.”
He also took a swipe at Nqwazi in his Facebook post, saying he hoped his cough and sore throat were a result of her unfair labour practice.
“Hopefully this sore throat and cough are as a result of exertion due to long hours leading the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality Covid-19 communications workstream since March 16.”
On Thursday, Baron was told to return to work by corporate services acting executive director Nosipho Xhego.
“This serves to advise that your suspension on full pay has been lifted. Kindly report for duty on November 5,” the letter reads.
Baron, however, feels that his “public suspension” had cast aspersions on his character.
“Although the notice brings to an end an uncertain period, compounded by the personal upheaval caused by the persistent Covid-19 pandemic, it still does not justify or remedy the aspersions cast on my character, work ethic and the direct impact it had on my personal relations,” he said when contacted for comment.
“Neither does it address the root cause that led up to the dispute in the first place, nor does it mollify the social injustice meted out against me.”
Baron said he would return to work on Monday.
“But I reserve all my rights in this matter.”
Mniki had not responded by deadline.
HeraldLIVE
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