POLITICS

Dr Andile Dyasi facing charges - Solidarity

Onderstepoort Biological Products CEO accused of fraud, misconduct

Chief Executive of OBP to face charges again over irregularities - Solidarity

String of charges brought against CEO

With more than just one blot on his name, the current CEO of the parastatal Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) is facing dismissal once again, the trade union Solidarity said today. Approximately a dozen complaints were brought against Dr Andile Dyasi at OBP, giving rise to an investigation against him. This comes just a year after Dyasi was appointed at OBP and after he was suspended from his position as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of Medunsa in 2005.

According to Solidarity, the current investigation into the complaints against Dyasi is crucial and in the interest of the employees of OBP. "The charges against him range from alleged fraud, misconduct, self-enrichment and discrimination against trade unions, to dishonesty," Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans explained.

It is alleged, among other things, that Dyasi personally changed the findings in a report on the market relatedness of employees' salaries. The report compares OBP employees' salaries with those of other similar employees in the industry. Dyasi allegedly tampered with the findings in the report to the benefit of his and his management's salaries and to the detriment of the salaries of the employees in the bargaining council, even though the trade unions and OBP had signed a collective agreement regarding the process. Dyasi's actions led to a complete breakdown in the relationship of trust between the trade unions and OBP and several unprotected strikes by the trade unions.

The OBP Board suspended Dyasi early in April, pending an investigation into this and other charges against him. According to reports, he insisted that his suspension be lifted earlier this month, seeing that a letter from the Minister of Agriculture, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, indicates that the Board is not in a position to suspend him. The letter states among other things that the minister had not made a decision to suspend Dyasi, that only the minister has the right to make this decision and that Dyasi should return to work immediately.

"It appears that the minister is protecting Dyasi. The employees of OBP fear victimisation and various documents concerning the irregularities were provided to Solidarity anonymously," Kleynhans said.

Solidarity emphasises that the suspension of a chief executive by the board of an organisation like OBP is not illegal. The same process was followed when Jacob Maroga was suspended from Eskom, after which it was found that the board had acted within its rights.

Solidarity now demands that the process be expedited. "A disciplinary hearing has not taken place yet and the matter has been dragging on since May. In the meantime, Dyasi still receives his normal salary," Kleynhans explained. 

The OBP Board meanwhile decided to implement the original findings in the report on OBP employees' remuneration. A considerable improvement on employees' salaries backdated to December was consequently implemented. In addition, further improvements on employees' salaries backdated to December will be implemented based on the findings of two additional reports that were compiled.

According to media reports, Dyasi was suspended from his position as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Medunsa in 2005/2006 after complaints about irregularities had surfaced. It was alleged, among other things, that he connived to get his son admitted to Medunsa to study medicine, even though his son did not pass Grade 12 mathematics. Apart from this, while Dyasi was at Medunsa he was also charged with allowing a sixth-year medical student to register as a doctor, although the student had not completed his studies.

OBP manufactures animal vaccines for the local and international markets. The organisation also does research and product development in this field.

Statement issued by Jaco Kleynhans, Solidarity spokesperson, July 18 2010

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