Ahead of his disciplinary hearing, which was convened by ActionSA last week, Abel Tau – who is still under precautionary suspension from his role as MMC for human settlements in the City of Tshwane – left tongues wagging after he unexpectedly sauntered into his office to tell colleagues that he would be back at work on November 11.
Witnesses told Sunday World that a confident Tau told them that when he comes back to work, “die poppe sal dans” – loosely translated to mean “all hell is going to break loose”.
Tau confirmed to Sunday World that he went to his office, saying it was his right to be there as he works there. “I went to the office because I needed to get some documents as I am on study leave. I am not suspended but I took a special leave. I told my colleagues that I will be back in the office on 11 November.
“I never threatened anyone, and the complainant doesn’t work for the city. There are no witnesses who work at the city, so I don’t understand why I should not come to my workplace. I came here to fetch my documents, which I use to study,” said Tau. However, one of the complainants works in Tau’s office.
It looks like it is business as usual for Tau. On Friday, it is alleged that he summoned the driver from his office to bring the city’s minibus to his house as he wanted the driver to take some of his guests from Botswana to the airport as they were flying to Belgium.
“The driver was ordered to bring the kombi [minibus] by Tau even though he is known to be on suspension. He spoke to the driver’s supervisor first and the driver after that.
“He told them that he was still their boss. The vehicle had to be hurriedly driven to Tau’s house to run his errands. This really shows how powerful the man is within ActionSA and the city,” said an insider.
Sunday World has independently verified that Tau called his subordinates to bring the City’s car to his house.
Asked if he had summoned the driver to his house, Tau denied it. “I have four cars and my wife and kids have cars. Why would I want to use the city’s car? I didn’t do such, it’s a lie.”
Tau confirmed that he also attended the disciplinary hearing convened by ActionSA last Friday. The matter was postponed to Tuesday.
ActionSA insiders say Tau refused to have the complainant’s husband provide one of the women’s recordings as evidence that the politician had allegedly raped her.
Reacting to developments that by going to the office, Tau might have violated conditions of his suspension, a disturbed ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said: “Abel is on suspension and he should not be in the office.
“We are not aware that that he was in the office, and he should not be in the office during this investigation.
“Our disciplinary committee headed by advocate Benson will present the report to us sometime in this coming week. He [Tau] must be living in a world of his own. Until such time that we get the report from the disciplinary committee, that decision [of returning to the office] cannot be taken by him.”
Mashaba was also shocked when we asked if he was aware that Tau had instructed a driver to bring the city council’s kombi to his house. “Please present us with evidence so that the matter can be taken up as well. It will be illegal in that regard for him to instruct people to do such.
“When you are on suspension you are on suspension. You cannot be suspended and be on a half suspension. He cannot represent the party or work when he is suspended.
“That study leave he told you about is nonsense. What is he studying? The man is making unnecessary mistakes and he is making it very difficult for us. At ActionSA we don’t play, and there is no way we can tolerate such behaviour. It’s proper to give the man a fair process and we will communicate the process.”
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