FTLM to pay R1.5 million for dismissal of former manager
"The municipality failed to meet the deadline and to implement the council's recommendations and therefore she opted go back to court," added Kgwedi
BURGERSFORT – Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) has been ordered to pay R1,5 million to its former human resource manager after she was unfairly dismissed for gross insubordination in 2016.
The municipality was recently ordered by the South African Local Bargaining Council (SALBC) to immediately reinstate Charity Rabada and compensate her with R1,5 million.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Sekhukhune said it will write to the mayor of FTLM, Ralepane Mmamekwa, to immediately institute a civil claim against the former corporate services director, Nkgolo Shai for the R1,5 million.
“It is alleged that Shai was on the forefront and personally orchestrated this dismissal after she allegedly issued letters of promotions to certain staff members via email after the amalgamation of both municipalities in 2016.
“It is alleged that Shai was responsible for issuing the dismissal letter to Rabada, who then took the legal route to challenge this,” said the party’s councillor, Lethabile Kgwedi
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According to the DA, the SALBC ordered the municipality to pay Rabada before August 31 and reinstate her on September 1, but the municipality objected to this, arguing that it would lead to prejudice if she was reinstated after the position was filled by another official a few months after her dismissal.
“The municipality failed to meet the deadline and to implement the council’s recommendations and therefore she opted go back to court,” added Kgwedi
He said Shai, and not the municipality, should be held accountable for the legal costs and the R1,5 million that needs to be paid to Rabada, as it is clear that he did not follow the correct procedures whilst orchestrating her dismissal
“This case is a clear example of how the cash-strapped municipality is being captured by a group of bandits that have no interest in prioritising the lives of vulnerable residents,” said Kgwedi.
The party urged Ralepane to deal with the matter decisively and to ensure that the taxpayers’ money is not wasted.
FTLM spokesman, Thabiso Mokoena said that the Rabada matter was being reviewed along with two other labour matters. “The municipality has taken the three labour matters for review as the law allows any aggrieved party to do so.”
