Khadija Magardie
The CEO of the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), Steve Lepita, this week lashed out against his suspension, calling it an attempt to stifle racial transformation of the body.
He also accused the association’s management of using Cansa’s name to line their pockets.
Lepita heard of his suspension while abroad on business for the association.
The president of Cansa, Georges de Muelenaere, last week announced that Lepita, formerly the financial director of the international aid organisation World Vision, had been suspended on full pay pending the outcome of a disciplinary enquiry.
In a press statement, which did not disclose the nature of the charges being brought against Lepita, Cansa said an investigation would be carried out “into his [Lepita’s] management and control of the organisation”. It also added that “at this stage, there is no evidence of financial impropriety”.
The suspension comes months after a meeting between Lepita and the Mail & Guardian, in which he painted a picture of an autocratic management committee and dissatisfied staff who were resigning in droves.
According to a resignation letter in the possession of the M&G, one senior staff member speaks of “secret meetings” and “bad corporate governance” and “disrespect for fellow counsellors” as a motivation behind the resignations. The letter added that staff “feel so strongly about this that [they] feel the time has come that the public contributes to the cause of Cansa be informed of the state of affairs”.
Founded in 1932 the non-profit organisation is funded through public donations, and provides an information and education service, as well as channelling opportunities for lucrative research funding into the disease.
Besides its elected office bearers, Cansa’s affairs are directed by chairpersons elected by its constituencies in eight provinces. Despite the fact that cancer cuts across racial lines, only one of the provincial chairpersons is black.
The Gauteng chairman, Sandton oncologist Robbie de Muelenaere, is the brother of Cansa’s president, Georges de Muelenaere. Robbie de Muelenaere was elected to the post six months before his brother’s election in December last year as president.
Lepita says his attempts to transform the association by appointing blacks to directorships in the pro-vinces have met with resistance.
Tensions came to a head last year when Lepita questioned the legality of a meeting held to elect new office bearers. In December a group of committee members convened a meeting. Georges de Muelenaere, treasurer Herman Kriel and vice-president Dr George du Toit were then “elected”.
Earlier this year the association’s legal counsel informed management that the meeting violated Cansa’s constitution, because no sufficient notice was given, no nominations were received beforehand, and that there were insufficient Cansa members present. As a result, they advised, the decisions taken were invalid.
The lawyers’ letter, addressed to Lepita, reads: “the unanimous assent of the members of the council of management will not have the effect of amending the articles [of the association’s constitution]”. It added that “any member of the management committee who knowingly participated in this violation [the unconstitutional meeting] is guilty of an offence”.
But this was rejected by Georges de Muelenaere, who has described the legal opinions as “totally unfounded” and “rubbish”. He said the organisation had obtained opinion from senior counsel advising them that the meeting was fully above board. The new management had earlier this year instructed Lepita to approach the Johannesburg Bar Council to obtain advice on whether the elections were legitimate. The counsel advised Cansa, in a letter received in May this year, to instruct a firm of attorneys to take the matter further. It is unclear whether this has taken place.
Despite this, Lepita says, the president, vice-president and treasurer continue to hold office. Because all office bearers, besides Lepita, are voluntary and are not paid, there is unlikely to be a financial motive. Lepita alleges the office bearers, particularly those in private oncology practice (nearly half of the management committee), are using the name of Cansa to secure patients.
Lepita’s allegations have been denied by Cansa. “I would like to see his proof, because I will take strong action against anyone using Cansa’s name improperly,” De Muelenaere said. He declined to elaborate on the nature of the charges against Lepita, saying the investigation, scheduled to begin early next month, should be allowed to take its course.