IOL reports that a senior human resources (HR) official of the IFP-run Endumeni (Dundee) Local Municipality in KZN is facing a disciplinary hearing after he allegedly conducted a "reign of terror" by firing employees willy-nilly.

This cost the municipality millions in legal fees to defend unwinnable cases and later compensating the employees. Sifiso Mhlungu is also accused of misleading the council when presenting these cases. He was suspended on full pay in December last year. He tried to challenge his suspension at the SA Local Government Bargaining Council on the basis that it was unfair, but he lost. The council agreed that Mhlungu’s suspension had been "procedurally and substantively fair.” In one case, Mhlungu is said to have “maliciously prosecuted” and fired an employee identified as Pretty Tsotetsi, an arts and culture officer in the municipality. Mhlungu is also facing a charge of gross dishonesty in that the municipality alleges that between 1 November and 1 December 2021 he went on a hiring spree in which he flouted recruitment rules and hired unqualified staff.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sihle Mavuso at IOL

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