FTLM vehicles seized
“The municipality failed to meet the deadline and to implement the council’s recommendations, and therefore she opted go back to court," said DA’s Cllr Lethabile Kgwedi.
BURGERSFORT – The local sheriff has seized five trucks and four graders at the Fetakgomo Greater Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) last Friday. Elias Mohlala and his team was in and out of the municipality attaching movable properties that morning.
This comes after the municipality was recently ordered by the South African Local Bargaining Council (SALBC) to immediately reinstate former human resources manager, Charity Rabada, who had been unfairly dismissed for gross insubordination in 2016.
The municipality was supposed to further compensate her with R1,5 million for the unfair dismissal.
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 were reinstated after the position had been 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,” said DA’s Cllr Lethabile Kgwedi.
According to the warrant of execution dated October 2, Rabada attached the municipality’s five trucks and four graders valued at R1,5 million.
In October, the DA in FTLM wrote to the mayor, Ralepane Mamekoa, to immediately institute a civil claim against the former corporate services director, Nkgolo Shai, for a staggering R1,5 million after this amount was to be awarded to the former human resources manager, Rabada.
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“It is alleged that Shai was on the forefront and personally orchestrated this dismissal after she had 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.”
On Wednesday, Kgwedi confirmed that the municipality had settled the debt. “The tax payers’ money was utilised to settle the debt instead of using the money to improve the lives of residents within the municipality. We believe that Shai, and not the municipality, should be held accountable for the legal costs and the R1,5 million that was paid to Rabada, as it is clear that he did not follow the correct procedures while orchestrating her dismissal,” the councilor added.
In October, FTLM’s communications manager, Thabiso Mokoena, denied the claims that some of the municipality’s properties were attached.
He also said 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. No assets were seized or attached from the municipality in any matter involving an employee.”
On Wednesday, Mokoena confirmed to Steelburger/Lydenburg News that “the matter has been resolved and the municipal assets were returned. We are appealing for the rights of the employer and employee to be respected in this regard.”
