Maimane in CCMA battle with chief of staff seeking R1.44m exit package amid unfair dismissal row - IOL

BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane in a CCMA dispute over unfair dismissal with a former chief of staff.

Build One South Africa (BOSA) has rejected allegations that it unfairly decided not to renew the fixed-term contract of its former Chief of Staff, Tania Coenraad, as her lawyers proposed a mutual separation package worth R1.44 million.

Coenraad is involved in an unfair-dismissal dispute with BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane, with the matter before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Coenraad said she her relationship with Mmusi preceded her formal employment with BOSA. 

"Our relationship was shaped by faith, family, public service and a shared belief that South Africa needed a different kind of political leadership...This is not the story of somebody who stood outside BOSA and disliked what it represented. I was inside it...That is also why what followed has been deeply disappointing," she said.

The dispute centres on Coenraad's fixed-term employment contract, which ran until June 30, 2026, and allegations that BOSA's conduct created a reasonable expectation that she would remain employed beyond the expiry date.

She said she attended a performance review on June 5, 2026, and received positive feedback but later that day, she was told that her contract won't be renewed.

Coenraad's attorneys, Patton Williams Inc, initially wrote to BOSA challenging the decision not to renew her contract and arguing that the intended non-renewal was substantively and procedurally unfair.

A subsequent letter dated June 11, 2026, proposed that the dispute be resolved through a mutual separation agreement.

A whistleblower who wanted to remain anonymous, said Mmusi dropped Coenraad when her husband was dying of cancer.

"And pretty much the reason was they were just trying to save money for Nobuntu's mayoral campaign."

According to the source, the party sent a number of employees packing while they were busy pushing through a Pay Bill in Parliament. The bill is designed to end salary discrimination and promote pay transparency. 

"He's a terrible person actually to work for, honestly," said the informant.

"I'm not one to try and torpedo people, but I also believe people need to know who they're voting for. You know what I mean? And Mmusi Maimane is not the holier-than-thou man of God he makes himself out to be."

Coenraad, who is now a widow, started working for BOSA on or about February 1, 2024, under a series of fixed-term arrangements before being appointed Chief of Staff from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026.

She was paid a gross monthly salary of R60,000.

Her lawyers described the Chief of Staff position as a central and integral role within BOSA, involving executive coordination, strategic continuity, operational alignment and implementation of ongoing organisational commitments.

They said Coenraad attended a performance-review feedback discussion on June 5, 2026, involving BOSA representatives, including BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster and HR representative.

The lawyers claimed that the feedback was positive in several respects, including recognition of Coenraad's stakeholder engagement, parliamentary coordination, donor relations, organisational systems development and contribution to strategic processes.

However, during a later discussion that afternoon, she was allegedly told verbally, in the presence of her colleagues, that her contract would not be renewed.

She was also asked to begin handing over her responsibilities and was told she could reapply for the position if it was advertised.

Coenraad's attorneys argued that BOSA's conduct created a reasonable expectation that she would be retained beyond June 30.

They pointed to her continued employment under successive fixed-term arrangements, her appointment to the more senior Chief of Staff position and what they described as the ongoing nature of the functions she performed.

They also referred to her involvement in BOSA's preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections.

According to the correspondence, Coenraad was included in strategy discussions on May 22, 2026, where she was treated as part of the campaign team and expected to participate in ongoing campaign-related work, including fundraising and strategic initiatives.

Her lawyers argued that those commitments extended beyond the expiry of her contract and reinforced her expectation of continued employment.

They also challenged any reliance by BOSA on contractual wording stating that the fixed-term appointment created no expectation of renewal.

The lawyers argued that BOSA could not rely on such wording if its subsequent conduct had contradicted it.

Despite maintaining her position that the intended non-renewal was unfair, Coenraad subsequently indicated that she did not want to engage in unnecessary litigation if the matter could be resolved.

In a June 11 letter marked "without prejudice", her lawyers said she was prepared to consider a mutual separation agreement that would bring finality to the employment relationship.

The proposed agreement would see her employment terminate by mutual agreement on June 19, 2026, or another date agreed by the parties.

In return, BOSA would pay her a separation amount equivalent to 24 months' remuneration — R1.44 million, based on her R60,000 monthly salary.

The proposed amount would include ordinary amounts due to Coenraad up to the agreed termination date, including salary, accrued leave pay, reimbursable expenses and other statutory or contractual entitlements.

Her lawyers also proposed that BOSA apply to the South African Revenue Service for a tax directive on the separation amount on the basis that the termination arose from operational requirements or restructuring.

The net separation amount would then be payable within five business days of BOSA receiving the SARS tax directive, unless another date was agreed.

BOSA, through lawyers acting for Maimane, rejected the allegations.

In its response, the organisation's lawyers said they did not intend to "litigate via correspondence" but denied the allegations contained in Coenraad's letter.

They maintained that the contractual position was clear.

The fixed-term contract expressly provided that it would terminate on June 30, 2026, while Coenraad had agreed in writing that the expiry of the contract would not constitute a dismissal and would not create an expectation of renewal or permanent or indefinite employment.

BOSA's lawyers said their client denied that any representation, undertaking, practice or conduct created a reasonable expectation of renewal or continued employment.

"Our client's position is that the contract expires by effluxion of time on 30 June 2026 in accordance with its express terms," the lawyers said.

They added that nothing in Coenraad's attorneys' correspondence altered that position.

BOSA also said Coenraad's remuneration, accrued leave and any final payments due would be processed in accordance with her employment contract, applicable legislation and the organisation's records.

Coenraad also raised concerns about the leadership environment she experienced while working at BOSA.

She alleged that some interactions with Maimane were demeaning, intimidating and, at times, bullying.

"Over time, some interactions affected my confidence around him. When he asked me something, I sometimes found myself speaking too quickly because I was anxious about getting the answer wrong or anticipating criticism. Even something as ordinary as occasionally driving him became stressful because criticism of my driving made me nervous when he was in the vehicle," she said.

Coenraad highlighted her public dismissal as a moment that left her utterly humiliated. She said the announcement was made in front of colleagues without her first being prepared for it or given an opportunity to understand what was happening.

"I experienced it as humiliation,” she said.

She said Maimane subsequently characterised the change as a promotion or an affirmation of Coenraad's role as Head of Parliament.

She stressed that her concern was not that she believed her employment had ended at that point, but rather the manner in which the change in her status was communicated publicly and the confusion caused by continuing to receive work.

"What I am saying is that it does not erase how the announcement was made or how I experienced it. I was publicly told in front of colleagues that I was no longer Chief of Staff, colleagues subsequently messaged me about what they had witnessed, and I was left unable to explain to them what had just happened."

In response to IOL’s query, BOSA HR consultant Dr Phindi Msomi said Coenraad had not been Maimane’s chief of staff for at least a year.

"She served in a role within BOSA’s Parliamentary operations, and her fixed-term contract came to an end on June 30, 2026. Allegations made against Dr Maimane are false and border on defamation. BOSA will provide a fuller response to the questions raised within 24 hours," said Msomi.