The City of Mbombela’s (CoM) CFO, Delight Sibanyoni, was unsuccessful in her application to render her termination of services unlawful in the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court today.

Acting Judge Hermann Fourie heard the matter in a fully packed court. Many of Sibanyoni’s supporters were in attendance.

The court found that her application could not be entertained on an urgent basis, but that it could be a candidate for the normal roll.

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In a media statement dated April 30, the CoM told Sibanyoni that her services were terminated with effect from June 1.

“The termination of the contract is a result of the MEC for co-operative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs (Coghsta) not concurring with her appointment as CFO. The affected incumbent has been notified accordingly,” reads the statement.

Sibanyoni’s challenges started when the former MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs, Mandla Msibi, challenged her appointment as CFO in the high court.

However, the current MEC for Coghsta, Speed Mashilo, withdrew the matter in October last year.

Five months later, Mashilo wrote to the CoM saying Msibi’s challenge against Sibanyoni’s appointment still stood. Mashilo had given the municipality 30 days to respond accordingly and remove Sibanyoni from her position on the basis that she allegedly misrepresented herself on her CV when she applied for the job.

Sibanyoni dismissed these allegations, saying she had proved beyond doubt that she did not misrepresent herself.

She insisted that she did meet with Mashilo who acknowledged that she was innocent. “I believe there is a political game at play here,” said Sibanyoni.