But her reinstatement is not with immediate effect as she still has to further engage with the board to facilitate her return.
Ellis was reinstated this week following her suspension in July last year in a scenario that shook the creative industry. Ellis was appointed to the CEO position last year January by the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Tumiso Rakgare but she lasted only seven months in office. Initially, she was placed under a three-month suspension.
However, the suspension was further extended by another three months until recently when it was made an indefinite full-pay suspension. Sources close to the developments confirmed to Arts&Culture that Rakgare has since reinstated Ellis. It is said that the minister wants the CEO to put the issue behind her and return to serving the council.
This is after the minister told Parliament recently that he was restrained from commenting on the issue as there are still ongoing disciplinary proceedings. While Ellis has declined to speak to Arts&Culture about this matter, sources reveal that the adjudication panel could not find any wrongdoing on her part following the charges levelled against her. Ellis referred the publication to the NACB public relations office for comment. Contacted for comment, Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) President, Fresh Lesokwane welcomed the news. “This is good news to us.
We had a problem with all of this because just as the council got up, she was suspended. We were not told anything of what exactly she had done. We believed in her leadership and her vision, so at the time to have her removed without any due explanation to us was an eyesore, so we welcome the news of her reinstatement,” Lesokwane said. For his part, The Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) president Gilbert Seagile (PP) blasted the ministry. “As a stakeholder, we were really taken aback by her suspension.
We learnt of this through the media, but it would have been wise for us to be consulted. Even now she has been reinstated and yet again we hear it from the media. This demonstrates irresponsibility on the part of the ministry because it means they don’t take us seriously,” Seagile said. Thapong Visual Arts Centre Coordinator, Reginald Bakwena said although he has not officially heard the news, he would welcome the decision. “I’m not aware because nothing official has been communicated. However, if it is true, then it would be a good development,” Bakwena said.
