CCMA-judgement just rumours, says Mayor

The Makhado Municipality is yet again locked in controversy, following the news that they have to cough up R450 000 of taxpayers’ money to pay former municipal manager Ms Faith Muthambi in compensation. Makhado mayor Cllr Mavhungu Luruli said this week, however, that this is a mere rumour.

According to a municipal source, an award for constructive dismissal was granted in favour of Muthambi by the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration), against the municipality, on July 14. This was after the municipality allegedly defaulted by not pitching up for the CCMA hearing on the said date. Following their failure to attend the hearing, the CCMA ordered the municipality to pay Muthambi the R450 000 no later than August 28. This the municipality allegedly also did not do.

“Again taxpayers’ money is being wasted, just like last year when the municipality was ordered by the Labour Court to pay Muthambi’s legal costs. Council must account to the taxpayers - why did they fail to attend the hearing?” said the source.

Asked why the CCMA meeting was not attended, who was supposed to attend and who was going to pay for the costs, Cllr Luruli said that the whole matter came as a surprise to her and said it had no substance.

“It’s just a rumour going around. Yes, I heard people talking about it, but these are nothing more than allegations,” Luruli said. She added that such a matter was never discussed at any of the municipality’s council meetings as they did not know anything about it. As for the hearing on July 14, Luruli said the municipality had not received any notice of this.

Several attempts by the newspaper to get comment from Muthambi, who was deployed as a member of parliament by the ANC shortly after the general elections earlier this year, were unsuccessful.

News - Date: 11 September 2009

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