An NGO which has been involved in drafting a code of ethics for the sector is in the spotlight for other reasons, reports Rehana Rossouw
A PRIME mover behind the creation of a code of ethics for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is involved in a bitter dispute with a former employee, which has dragged his organisation into a costly – and futile – legal and labour relations battle.
The ethics initiative – which has the backing of 900 NGOs across South Africa – is due to be unveiled next month.
It includes self-binding agreements on finances, the role of boards and staff, the use of assets within organisations, affirmative action and community input.
But one of its chief proponents, Willem du Toit, CEO of Umzamo Development Project, a Cape Town NGO, has spent months and thousands of rands fighting a former employee in the industrial and supreme courts.
So bitter is the dispute that the funder of the NGO has suspended further assistance pending an audit report prompted by the former employee’s allegations.
Nasiema Isaacs of Ottery in Cape Town, says she has been “fighting Umzamo for justice” for more than a year. Last Friday, the sheriff of the supreme court was sent into Umzamo’s offices with a writ of execution to attach goods to the value of R8 500 – money the industrial court has decreed Umzamo owes her.
Du Toit has refused to pay Isaacs until she details what allegations she had made to its German-based funder, Misereor.
Isaacs, who spent nine years with the NGO, said she could no longer bear the exploitative nature of the project and the financial uncertainties of the NGO sector, and last Jaunary offered Du Toit two options. She was prepared to work on a contract basis and get paid hourly, or take a severance package.
After failing to strike a deal, she left anyway. Du Toit refused to pay her a bonus or severance package.
Isaacs approached the Department of Labour which advised her to seek relief from the industrial court. The court ruled last November that Isaacs was entitled to R8 500 and ordered Umzamo to pay by December 15. When it failed to pay, she was granted the writ of execution in the supreme court to attach goods to the value of R8 500.
“I have been victimised and harassed and blackmailed by Umzamo for more than a year,” Isaacs said.
Du Toit was not available for comment. However, his lawyer, Richard Brown, said the NGO could not pay her because there were still “outstanding matters”.
Brown said Isaacs had made certain “spurious allegations” to Misereor and Du Toit wanted to know what she had said to the company before the money was paid.
“This was not made a condition of payment, it is not something which is included in a court order but it was an agreement between the parties,” Brown said.
He said her allegations to Misereor had “put the brakes” on Umzamo’s funding. He also alleged that Isaacs had been responsible for some of the problems in the organisation.
Michael Hippler, of Misereor’s Africa desk, said Umzamo’s funding would be reviewed after the audit report is completed next month.
“The audit will not look at management of the organisation – that responsibility lies with its board,” he said.
Hippler declined to elaborate on the financial allegations against Umzamo. “I am unable to give any specific information about what we are looking for in Umzamo,” he said. “But you can say that we are in dialogue with them to clarify certain issues.”