A high court has dismissed Absa's application to block Sipho Pityana from accessing records regarding his dismissal.He has also lodged a challenge against the Reserve Bank's Prudential Authority for allegedly interfering in his appointment as Absa board chair.The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has dismissed Absa's application to block Sipho Pityana from accessing the record of decision regarding his dismissal from the bank's board.
This dismissal paves the way for Pityana to approach the court to compel Absa to hand over relevant documents. "Absa will take a position on an appropriate way forward in due course. The outcome of this interlocutory application does not, however, materially affect Absa's position in the review application," the bank said.Pityana was dismissed by the Absa board after they decided he pursued his own personal interests to the bank's detriment.
The Prudential Authority, which oversees the country's banks, denied interfering in the matter, saying it had received no written notice of his nomination from Absa.The Absa board had invited Pityana to address"allegations that he had neglected or had been derelict in the performance of his functions as a director of the boards and had failed to conduct himself in the interests of Absa".