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BusinessLive reports that Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has lost her appeal against a ruling of the Johannesburg Labour Court, which ordered her to reinstate an employee whom she claimed was responsible after she was trapped in a lift, and who was then fired.
Last week the Court dismissed Kubayi’s leave to appeal, as it had no prospect of success. In March, Kubayi got stuck in a lift for over an hour at her offices and notified her staff via WhatsApp. Deputy director of corporate services Nelly Letsholonyane arranged for a technician to be sent to the building. The next day Letsholonyane was summoned to the minister’s office and issued with a letter of an intention to dismiss her for alleged gross negligence that posed a threat to employees’ lives for failing to ensure the building and elevators were properly maintained and timeously responding to the minister’s entrapment. She was later given an ultimatum by the minister – be dismissed, face a disciplinary hearing with suspension, or take early retirement. She opted, under protest, for the retirement option. Days later, the minister phoned Letsholonyane and informed her that she was fired. Letsholonyane instituted proceedings in the Labour Court and argued that the minister had acted as the victim, witness, initiator and referee. In May, acting judge Molatelo Makhura ruled that the dismissal was in breach of the contract of employment. The court ordered that Letsholonyane be reinstated. Last Tuesday, Makhura dismissed Kubayi’s leave to appeal the ruling as it would have “no reasonable prospects of success” and there were “no compelling reasons” the Labour Appeal Court should hear the matter.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tauriq Moosa at BusinessLive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page