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GroundUp reports that the Johannesburg Labour Court has ruled that the axing of a Lesedi Municipality Chief Financial Officer for misrepresenting his qualifications was fair.
Acting Judge Bart Ford set aside a previous ruling by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) that Paul Mpele had been unfairly dismissed and that he should be reinstated with back pay of more than R2-million. Judge Ford said the decision by the commissioner to reinstate Mpele in circumstances where he had misrepresented his qualifications and professional status was “unreasonable”. The judge noted that the misrepresentation of qualifications was “pervasive and a menacing evil that greedily devours and indelibly taints our employment landscape”. He added that it was “morally offensive”, cheapened legitimate and hard-earned achievements and could never be condoned. Mpele was hired in 2015 and fired in April 2019, following an internal disciplinary hearing prompted by a forensic investigation into his qualifications. Aggrieved, he turned to the CCMA, which found in his favour. Evidence before the commissioner was that while Mpele had met the general requirements for the CFO position, he had been considered favourably, to the exclusion of other candidates, because he claimed to be a B.Com Accounting graduate. The judge said the commissioner had been presented with “overwhelming evidence” yet had come to an unreasonable decision in favour of Mpele. He ruled that Mpele’s dismissal was both procedurally and substantively fair, setting aside the CCMA award.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp
- Read too, Axed: Lesedi Local Municipality CFO faked qualifications, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page