Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen told Roman Cabanac the controversy that finally led to his axing from government was not “fair” but the situation could “no longer be managed”.
Steenhuisen made the concession on September 9 last year in an e-mail to Cabanac that was kept under wraps until this week, when the sacked chief of staff indicated he would sue the DA leader and the agriculture department for just over R5m for loss of income. That is the amount Cabanac would have earned from the time he was fired in June this year until the end of the GNU's five-year term in 2029.
Steenhuisen initially asked Cabanac to step down after his track record of making racist and right-wing comments on social media and podcasts came to light and sparked a public backlash. Cabanac refused.
More than nine months later, Steenhuisen sacked Cabanac from the R1.2m a year job, citing Cabanac's failure to qualify for top-level security clearance because he held dual citizenship. Cabanac, who was born in France, rejected this argument, saying it had nothing to do with his performance in government and amounted to unfair dismissal.
Steenhuisen's e-mail to Cabanac surfaced ahead of the matter heading to the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on December 1.
“This is not a piece of correspondence that I have ever wanted to write,” the DA leader said. “I am afraid that the situation regarding your appointment has spiralled wildly out of control and is now consuming all the oxygen surrounding the department, my ministry and now the DA itself.
“I have endured a long federal executive this morning where the [DA's] federal executive have widely criticised my appointment and the subsequent fallout and demanded that I be held accountable for it and the impact it has had for the party.”
I believe we need to have a discussion on how you are able to exit in a dignified manner and emerge as the bigger person going forward
— John Steenhuisen
Steenhuisen wrote that the matter was “now being weaponised by my opponents inside and outside the party”.
“I know that this situation is neither fair, nor at that scale of what either of us foresaw, however it has unfortunately reached a stage where it is relentless and can no longer be managed.
“I believe we need to have a discussion on how you are able to exit in a dignified manner and emerge as the bigger person going forward.”
Cabanac’s legal team has indicated that the matter may end up in the labour court, pending the outcome of discussions at the PSCBC.
Steenhuisen’s office, through spokesperson Joylene van Wyk, said they had a legal defence.
“It is a matter of public record that the minister requested Mr Cabanac to stand down from his position when inappropriate tweets that he had deleted prior to being appointed were exposed. The correspondence related to that request to stand down,” Van Wyk said.
“Mr Cabanac, despite being a political appointee, refused to step down from his position. Events were eventually overtaken by the fact that Mr Cabanac failed to meet a suspensive condition of employment that was clear from the contract that he signed.
“Mr Cabanac no longer works for the ministry, and we have moved on. We will answer any case he brings with the fact that he did not meet a suspensive condition of employment.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.