Cape Argus reports that the City of Cape Town has forked out more than R300,000 to an employee it had overlooked for a top job.  

The post of director of policing was given to former top cop Robbie Roberts.  But, Annalene Marais, deputy chief of the metro police who also applied for the job, lodged a complaint with the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu).  The union took the complaint to the Bargaining Council, which forced the City to pay more than R300,000 to Marais.  In her complaint, Marais indicated:  “Mr Roberts was appointed with effect as of August 3, 2015 and even though I’m more than qualified and meet all the requirements as per the advertisement I was not shortlisted, assessed or interviewed in the process that led to his appointment.”  Marais concluded that the whole process had been window dressing.  The commissioner took into consideration that the City failed to shortlist and afford Marais an opportunity to be interviewed or to give proper consideration to her CV and that it did not consider her experience in a policing environment.  JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety, security and social services, indicated that he did not get involved in the appointment of staff.

• Read this report by Jason Felix in full at Cape Argus

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page