Wicks case postponed to New Year

Ian Wicks, twice suspended MD of SA Independent Liner Services (Sails), faces a brace of charges, some with a financial implication, following a three month enquiry into his conduct by major shareholder, Lonrho, the pan-African conglomerate. FTW understands a “quantum of ten” charges is being proffered, some of which Wicks refuted at a disciplinary hearing in Cape Town. While the process continues, a Cape High Court action stemming from an urgent application by Wicks calling for the withdrawal of the suspension and his immediate reinstatement as MD of Sails, is due to conclude early in the New Year rather than this month, due to a heavy court roll. At the last hearing in July Lonrho was issued with a rule nisi calling on it to respond by October as to why judge Siraj Desai’s ruling that Wicks be reinstated with immediate effect and his suspension be withdrawn, should not become final. Wicks did indeed return to work after the ruling but not for long. Lonrho suspended him yet again and continued to run the company under caretaker MD, Peter Albeck. Robert Scott, Lonrho’s country manager for South Africa, explains the disciplinary charges are being dealt with one by one. “It’s a long, laborious process which we have to carry on with and the High Court matter does not affect it one iota. All that really needs to be happening (at the High Court) is the question of costs, if truth be told.” As to how things are at Sails, Scott says: “We have a documented strategy (soon to be signed off by the chairman) which does not require a monumental shift in what we are doing but requires an upgrade – I am talking about looking at alternatives for more efficient vessels and a more sales-oriented force.” * Contact was made with Wicks at week’s end, but he referred FTW to Lonrho’s Scott, apart from remarking: “I can hardly say anything right now.”