Woman accused of 'being too quiet' cries racism after axing

Consultant says he never mention her race as the reason

- By Bongani Mdakane

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 ten 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.