According to SANParks, Mketeni appeared in court on Monday with three other individuals on similar charges – two males employed by SANParks and a female who is not a SANParks employee.
SANParks board chairperson Joanne Yawitch said Mketeni requested to take leave due to the seriousness of the allegations.
“In line with SANParks’ commitment to ethical conduct and the seriousness of the allegations, Mketeni has requested to take special leave until such time that this matter has been resolved and the law has taken its course,” she said.
“The board of SANParks views the allegations made in an extremely serious light and will allow the court proceedings to take their course and reach conclusions on the allegations. The board will however investigate whether the circumstances surrounding the allegations led to any improper or illegal conduct which may affect the employment relationship,” said Yawitch.
Mketeni was appointed CEO of SANParks in 2014 after spending 10 years in the then department of environmental affairs as a deputy director-general, responsible for biodiversity and conservation, additional reporting by SYDNEY MORWENG.
He is out on R2000 bail.
Image (Suspended SANParks chief executive Fundisile Mketeni).
