Fresh allegations of sexual harassment have surfaced at the troubled Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), the state-owned entity responsible for air traffic control in the South African skies.
In the latest incident, a woman employee whose identity is known to Sunday World has laid a complaint against the entity’s spokesperson, Mphilo Dlamini.
Sunday World has learnt that Dlamini was suspended in March by the company.
The woman did not go into detail about the nature of the alleged sexual harassment, but Dlamini claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign.
“I am the victim here,” said Dlamini.
In his representation, which we have seen, Dlamini pointed out that the only complaint the complainant had raised to him was about workload as she was assisting in his department.
“I categorically deny these claims and allegations as baseless, malicious and without any facts. I have never at any point harass XXX in any way, let alone sexually. I have never touched her, let alone touched her inappropriately, ever. I have never hugged her, and when I shook her hand, it would be in public, as I shake other colleagues’ hands,” said Dlamini.
He added in his representations that he had never said anything inappropriate that contained sexual innuendos towards the complainant.
“I have never had a private meeting with her in my office or any meeting room. I have never complimented her on her dress code, appearance, looks or whatsoever.
“She has never complained to me about the words I have uttered to her in our work conversations, nor has she ever complained about my physical actions towards her.
“I have never proposed love to her or even told her anything that suggests that I like her or love her. I view these allegations against me as malicious, aimed at damaging my reputation, and I will do whatever necessary to defend my name and reputation,” he said.
He requested ATNS to dismiss claims of sexual harassment against him.
Last week, when this publication was working on another explosive sex and racism scandal regarding a memorandum that was swept under the carpet for seven years by ATNS, Dlamini told Sunday World that he was back at work as the case against him was thrown out.
“That girl said in the investigations that I did nothing to her, instead, she pointed out that I was no longer giving her attention. I am back at work as that case was a fabricated
matter aimed at destroying me,” Dlamini said.
“I suspect she is using the recent sexual harassment case that happened in the company to gain attention, recognition and relevance. She wants to obtain sympathy by faking sexual harassment against me, who has always treated her with honour and respect. The company must take action against such fake actions,” said Dlamini.
When he was asked to provide proof that the case against him was dismissed, he said that his lawyers said that the report should not be made public to protect him.
ATNS spokesperson Percy Morokane confirmed Dlamini’s suspension.
“Mr Mphilo Dlamini is still on precautionary suspension whilst the internal processes are underway. The ATNS board of directors is informed of cases of employee misconduct,” said Morokane.
In February, we reported that ATNS head of air traffic control, Simon Zwane, was suspended for sexual harassment and was subsequently fired in March following a Sunday World exposé.
