PHUTI MOSOMANE
Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says contrary to media reports her DDG for corporate services Nelly Letsholonyane, wasn’t unlawfully dismissed because the Minister got stuck in the lift for an hour in April this year.
In a statement released on Monday Kubayi says she firmly believes that Letsholonyane was presented with several allegations of misconduct and afforded an opportunity to make a written representation as to why she should not be dismissed.
It is reported that Kubayi summarily terminated Letsholonyane’s contract after she got stuck in the lift and blamed her DDG for her mishap and charged her with misconduct.
Kubayi is alleged to have posted on her WhatsApp group that she was stuck in the lift and that the ‘responsible person had already left work’.
Letsholonyane, after seeing the message, took steps to get a technician from the lift company to fix the problem, reports say.
Nevertheless she was allegedly summoned to the Minister’s office the following morning and served with a letter of the intention to dismiss her for gross negligence.
On April 20 Letsholonyane was finally dismissed with immediate effect and she approached the Labour Court arguing that the Minister acted as the ‘victim, witness, initiator and referee’ and that her matter should be dealt with in a disciplinary hearing.
After hearing the matter, the Labour Court ruled in her favour and ordered Kubayi to immediately reinstate her.
Kubayi says in her statement she notes with concern the misleading media reports regarding the dismissal of Letsholonyane, and wishes to clarify that she was not unfairly dismissed for the ‘lift incident’ as reported.
“It is not the intention of the Minister to litigate through media but save for clarification of the matter,” reads the statement.
“It is important to note that Ms Letsholonyane has been undergoing various disciplinary processes including those that precede the arrival of Minister Kubayi at the Department of Human settlements.
“The Minister considered the representation and found it to be lacking in particular and necessary explanation. The matter is still ongoing in court, and once it has been finalised the Minister will issue a media statement”.
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