Life after Exxaro with Dr Nombasa Tsengwa

702's Bongani Bingwa is joined by former Exxaro CEO Dr Nombasa Tsengwa.

Listen below:

In December, the firm announced that it had placed its then CEO, Nombasa Tsengwa, on precautionary suspension. 

It was pending the outcome of an independent investigation into 'allegations related to workplace conduct and governance practice.'

Tsengwa explains why she's speaking out now...

"When I was suspended... I was really confined and limited by what I could say by my suspension conditions."

- Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, Former Exxaro CEO

Tsengwa went on to resign from her position in February of this year, citing the way in which the investigation was conducted - at the time saying it had been carried out with "a predetermined outcome, which I refuse to subject myself further to."

"And at that time I had to deal with the shock and the grief that I had to leave an organisation that I loved, an organisation that made me."

- Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, Former Exxaro CEO

Among the allegations levelled at the former exec during her time at the top – that she was a bully and guilty of toxic leadership.

Executives around her resigned, saying her leadership style was unbearable. 

Tsengwa said she led people with respect.

"I am one of those people who are able to engage in courageous conversations and when these accusations came, they came as a big surprise."

- Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, Former Exxaro CEO

"It just became too complicated and for me it became clear, that the space for me to engage in the organisation was actually not available."

- Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, Former Exxaro CEO

RELATED: Coal miner Exxaro suspends CEO 'pending investigation' into alleged misconduct

So what went wrong, asks Bingwa?

"Instead of trying to understand what could have happened... is to save my voice and deal with the future and deal with things that are positive."

- Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, Former Exxaro CEO

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.