Kritzinger vs Dyakala face-off in court this week
Two of the Vaal’s most powerful public figures are expected to face each other in court this week after ELM’s CFO made a written death threat toward the President of the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) on social media.
ELM CFO Andile Dyakala has been summonsed to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday this week after GTCoC President Klippies Kritzinger recently applied for a court protection order against the controversial official.
Kritzinger also laid a criminal charge against Dyakala in connection with the same incident.
The death threat erupted from Dyakala after he unblocked Kritzinger’s number following the well-known and influential business leader’s media comment on Dyakala’s recent “tap on the wrist” sentencing for misconduct and bringing ELM into disrepute.
An ELM council committee – as demanded by the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) – earlier this month decided the final warning and written apology imposed on Dyakala by Majavu Attorneys for gross misconduct and bringing the municipality into severe disrepute was inappropriate.
Although found guilty on both counts, Dyakala was not fired due to a first offence and because the relationship between him and ELM had supposedly not broken down from “a lapse in diplomacy”.
“We are reviewing the decision of the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee and the reviewal will go to the Labour Court,” ELM spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni confirmed last week.
Dyakala is now accused of specifically unblocking Kritzinger him on WhatsApp to claim “victory” regarding his disciplinary and then threatened the prominent business leader with death, evidence in possession of Vaalweekblad has revealed.
Dyakala, who has admitted to anger management issues and offered to go for counselling, now faces a perfect storm of consequence management on several fronts, including:
- Review of the Dyakala disciplinary could result in him being fired outright – he now remains suspended on a precautionary basis and is not allowed back at work.
- Dyakala also faces a legal bill of R270 000 after a recent Johannesburg Court urgent application for his reinstatement from suspension was dismissed with costs in his personal capacity.
- A criminal charge was laid by Kritzinger after Dyakala sent a “U will die” Whatsapp to the business leader with a photograph of the grave of his own (Dyakala’s) mother .
- ELM Municipal Manager Lucky Leseane has also instituted defamation proceedings against Dyakala after he openly attacked his superior on social media and radio following his precautionary suspension.
- Kritzinger has confirmed he will also request ELM to investigate and discipline Dyakala for additional misconduct unbecoming a senior official due to the WhatsApp death threat.
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