A young black female civil engineering technologist has accused her former employer, VEA Road Maintenance and Civils, of axing her from her top job because she is black.
Kamo Monembe, a 35-year-old Bloemfontein-born woman, said Sanral’s biggest service provider axed her for no good reason and replaced her with a white male ill-qualified for the job.
Furthermore, consultant Deon Louw of Lathiso Consulting Engineers had already allegedly told her that she was being removed because she is black.
She told Sunday World that her problems started when she raised an objection about her treatment to her senior, Terry-Anne Hart.
Hart had reportedly told her 10 days earlier that Damienne Ceylon, another manager, had recommended that she be replaced for being “too reserved and not vocal enough”.
“Had I truly been underperforming, it is your responsibility as my employer and immediate supervisor to advise me of such and we would seek plausible remedial actions instead of suggesting and implementing a demotion against me,” she wrote.
She told Sunday World that prior to this, she had not even had a performance review.
She added that instead Hart called and told her she did not understand why Louw wanted her removed.
Nonetheless, Monembe was demoted and made to sit at home for nine months on full pay.
“I then wrote to Sanral’s company secretary and legal advisor to raise these issues,” she said.
“VEA has violated my rights as an employee, and I would like to be assisted in any way possible, as this has led to a cascade of stress-related emotional, physical, and behavioural changes in my life.”
She added that when VEA learnt of this, she was charged with misconduct”.
Hart told the chairperson of the hearing that Monembe had brought VEA into disrepute when she told Sanral that she wanted to expose it in the media for marginalising a black
professional.
Hearing chairperson Thabiso Mzileni found Monembe guilty and recommended she be axed.
VEA lawyer Elma York of York Attorneys threatened to interdict Sunday World.
“From the outset we would like to place on record that VEA Group Ltd and all of its subsidiaries do not tolerate any form of discrimination and place a high premium on human rights and the dignity of all persons.
“The allegations of discrimination, victimisation or any wrongdoing is (sic) expressly and unequivocally denied.
“The parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement, which prohibits any party from disclosing an array of information or defaming the other. Monembe by making these allegations, albeit unfounded and false, are (sic) in direct breach of the agreement.
“Our client cannot provide information, which is prohibited by an agreement. Our offices have addressed a letter to Monembe cautioning her against her unlawful actions.
“We want to caution that publishing unverified allegations of this nature will be reckless and will lead to irreparable harm of (sic) our client. We request written confirmation that you will not publish these unfounded, unsubstantiated and unverified allegations on/before close of business Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
Louw said: “I was told by VEA that I am not to comment at (sic) this matter. Just take note that Kamo [Monembe] never worked for me, neither did I work for VEA, so there is no way that I could have requested her to be replaced.
“VEA was her employer, and it was 100% their decision to move her.
“Why would I have a problem with colour of a person? VEA will officially respond.”
