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SAMWU hits out at R1.2million legal fees incurred to uphold dismissal of worker found not guilty |
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SAMWU Press Statement
3rd March 2008
3pm
Tzaneen Municipality is again wasting hundreds of thousands of rands of public money. In the latest fiasco at the municipality, management has spent about R1.2 million on legal costs related to their dismissal of a worker who was found not guilty by the municipality’s own disciplinary enquiry.
The municipality has now run out of funds, having already paid the lawyers this huge amount, and so the case has been left hanging in the air.
The employee, Ms M.S. Leshabane, was charged with theft of R15 000 in 2005. The municipality’s own disciplinary found her not guilty. However the Municipal Manager decided to dismiss Leshabane anyway. SAMWU took the matter to arbitration. The CCMA ruled that Leshabane must be reinstated and paid backpay of R 73 327.20.
Instead of complying with the CCMA ruling, the municipality has now decided to take the matter on review to Labour Court.
“We deem this action as waste of tax payer’s money” said Andries Sebeela, SAMWU Local Chairperson. “The Municipality should swallow its pride and reinstate the employee. The Municipality should concentrate on service delivery and stop witchhunts of employees. We therefore request that the said employee to be reinstated and the Employer should respect the decision of the Arbitration chairperson,” said Seebela.
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For more information contact Andries Sebeela, SAMWU Local Chairperson, on 082 458 2505
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Worker's News April 2008 PART 1 (514)
