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Sunday Tribune reports that dismissed from her job because she was black, a Durban single mother is now preparing a R10-million damages claim against the Frame Leisure Trading Group for her resulting pain and suffering.
By chance, Silungile Mavundla was copied in on an email thread between the company’s HR administrator and the person who had recruited her. In the exchanges, Mavundla was referred to as a “dangerous employee” who was “sinking the ship (the company)” and was not the preferred race for her position as payroll administrator. An extract reads: “With regards to Slu, we need to look for a back-up but not a black again. I need someone that I can train in industrial relations, HR and payroll. Maybe a young graduate, white female.” Mavundla was appointed to the position in 2016 and worked from the company’s head office in Sandton ensuring that the monthly payroll was processed correctly. In late 2016, Mavundla faced three charges relating to her professional conduct. It was while she was on suspension that she received the said e-mail, a fact which she brought to the company’s attention. Nonetheless, her disciplinary hearing went ahead in December 2016 and she was dismissed. Mavundla took her matter to the CCMA, where it was ruled that her dismissal had been both substantially and procedurally unfair. The commissioner ordered that she be reinstated and paid an amount of R150,000. The company then challenged the decision at Labour Court, where the matter is still proceeding. On why she was making a R10m civil claim, Mavundla said: “I have lost two cars, a house and owe about R100 000 in school fees. My lawyer’s fees are beyond R150 000. I have been unemployed for almost four years because I was blacklisted and no company wants to employ me now.” The company denies that Mavundla was fired for being black and claims it was for gross negligence.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lethu Nxumalo at Sunday Tribune
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