The battle between the Trevor Manuel-led Old Mutual board
and embattled CEO Peter Moyo took a dramatic turn yesterday as Moyo was barred
from his office and the staff was evacuated from the building following a bomb
scare.
Moyo is now accusing Old Mutual of being in contempt of a
court order after the company denied him access to his Sandton office despite
the South Gauteng High Court interim order that he be reinstated to his
position as his dismissal in June was deemed unlawful.
But Old Mutual insists that Moyo should stay away from its
head office as the company is appealing the court ruling.
Old Mutual spokesperson Tabby Tsengiwe said the company
obtained advice that the CEO can't return to work until the appeal is
finalised.
"As far as we have taken counsel as Old Mutual, it
means that Mr Moyo is not permitted or allowed to resume duty because our leave
to appeal actually means that the order to have him reinstated is
suspended."
However, Moyo's legal representative Eric Mabuza disagreed:
"An application for leave to appeal only suspends a court order which is
final. This is not a final order, it says he is temporarily reinstated. They
are in contempt of the court order because they should implement the order,
it's not being disturbed by anything."
Moyo was first suspended and later fired after the board,
chaired by former finance minister Manuel, claimed that there was conflict of
interest due to his involvement in a company he co-founded called NMT Capital.
The board said at the time that there were concerns around
declaration of Moyo's dividends in the company. But Moyo later claimed that his
removal followed his disagreements with Manuel at board level.
He then took to the courts where on Monday it was ruled he
can return to work.
"We actually came back as directed by the court [but]
Old Mutual don't believe I should, and I quite frankly consider it a total
contempt of court and I think it's one of those things where the board is
clearly in contempt," said Moyo.
He said he would meet with his senior counsel, Advocate
Dali Mpofu, to decide their next move.
Moyo said his fightback against Manuel and the board was
about his rights. "I did not make it difficult. This is actually about
people's rights, this is also about people's accountabilities. One of the
values of this organisation is actually accountability and integrity."
Sowetan
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