News24 reports that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has ruled against the Public Protector (PP) in a case regarding the dismissal of former Free State provincial head, Sphelo Hamilton Samuel.

The CCMA ordered the Chapter 9 institution to reinstate Samuel and to back-pay the official an amount of R1.5 million. PP Busisiwe Mkhwebane dismissed Samuel after he wrote to Parliament in 2020 requesting an investigation into her conduct as well as the financial mismanagement at the institution. In ruling in favour of Samuel, the commissioner, James Ngoako Matshekga, ordered the PP to reinstate Samuel before 4 July 2022, in addition to the payment of 12 months' salary, or R1.5 million. "The dismissal of the applicant [Samuel] by the respondent [the Public Protector] was substantively unfair, but procedurally fair," Matshekga said in his award. Mkhwebane did not testify during the process. Mkhwebane has been in the spotlight as Parliament forges ahead with its inquiry into her fitness to hold office, despite her attempts to prevent it. Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Mkhwebane.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Azarrah Karrim at News24

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page