The Council of The Playhouse Company has lived up to its promise to restore corporate governance at The Playhouse. After carefully considering the recommendations it received following its commissioned forensic investigation by KPMG into Playhouse Company affairs, the Council today suspended the theatre organisation’s managing director Prof Caesar Ndlovu on full pay pending disciplinary action.

Also suspended on the same basis, are Playhouse management staff Oscar Hlangu (operations director), Carlos da Costa (chief financial officer) and Fred Myburgh (human resources manager).

The forensic investigation was undertaken as a consequence of adverse internal audit reports in the two financial years past. The resulting suspensions have been enacted with government authority.

At a meeting at The Playhouse in Durban on May 27, the Playhouse Council (Board) chaired by Mina Lesoma appraised staff of the situation. The name of the company’s new acting administrator will be released shortly. This person will oversee the running of the organisation during its current management hiatus. The Ethekweni City Council has undertaken to assist in appointing someone to carry out this role and further details will be released as they become available. The public will be kept informed of the situation.