Suspended water affairs chief Pam Yako is taking Environment and Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica and President Jacob Zuma to the Labour Court in a bid to clarify allegations of financial irregularity and mismanagement against her.
Yako is also asking the court to allow her to return to work. The matter will be heard on Friday.
Yako, put on special leave three months ago, contends that Sonjica’s decision was unlawful and unfair.
She was put on special leave in July to allow an investigation into the allegations to take place. But in papers filed in the Labour Court she argues that the investigation has not started and that she remains unaware of the exact charges against her. Yako hints that her special leave is a witch-hunt. She is still receiving her full salary.
Sonjica’s spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, did not respond to a Mail & Guardian query. Last week Ratau told Sapa that the past three months had been taken up with consultations required before the investigation could start.
The Democratic Alliance’s Gareth Morgan said that after three months it should be clear whether Yako had transgressed any financial ÂÂprovisions or was guilty of other misconduct.
”We cannot allow the department to be in a state of limbo,” he said.