Former Knysna Municipal Manager, Grant Easton, has left the Municipality's employ without any golden handshake.
In a statement Wednesday, the Municipality said that Easton had tendered his resignation effective30 April after he was charged with “misconduct in relation to several serious irregularities which occurred during his tenure.”
“A disciplinary hearing was convened, and the Municipality called several witnesses to testify in the case against Easton. In the opinion of the Municipality, the evidence against Easton was overwhelming,” the Knysna Municipality said.
However, it said that Easton had “unexpectedly tendered his resignation”, which the
Municipality accepted bringing an end to “employment relationship, and the purpose of the disciplinary hearing was mooted.”
Knysna Muncipality said “Easton is legally entitled to receive all benefits which accrued to him prior to his resignation, which benefits include past accumulated leave days, and an old outstanding bonus dating back to the 2014/15 budget year.”
“The total cost of proceedings is yet to be finally calculated. The Municipality has a constitutional imperative to investigate misconduct and to discipline staff and the cost could not be avoided.”
But, Knysna Municipality said “we can assure the public that no settlement was entered into, and Easton was not paid out for the rest of the term of his contract. He will also not receive any bonus for the 2015/16 budget year or the 2016/17 budget year.”
