Emfuleni finally fires worker after six-year R55-million legal battle

VAAL TRIANGLE - The Emfuleni Local Municipality has fired an employee after spending R55 million on legal fees in an epic court battle about a six-year labour dispute. News24 reports Edward Radebe's dismissal on Friday came just days after the Constitutional Court dismissed the municipality's bizarre leave to appeal a lower court order to pay the former acting manager for occupational health and safety. City Press reports it has seen the dismissal letter, dated 7 October 2024, in which the cash-strapped municipality informed Radebe of his dismissal. Radebe confirmed receiving the dismissal letter but said he was challenging his axing at the bargaining council. The saga started in 2018 when he lodged an unfair labour practice dispute with the bargaining council. Radebe, who had acted in the position for more than a decade, had demanded to be paid benefits associated with the position. The council found in Radebe’s favour and ordered that he was entitled to R739 000, but the municipality refused to pay. Instead, it hired several law firms to appeal the ruling at the labour appeals court.

However, despite the court ruling in Radebe’s favour the municipality would not pay. In October last year, Radebe had the municipality’s bank account attached to recoup the funds. The municipality then paid him R1.1 million, including interest. But in strange twist of events, in January this year the municipality approached the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal the matter, but the application was dismissed on Friday. Radebe was suspended in February for attaching the municipality’s bank account and two law firms were appointed - one to initiate the matter and the other for the proceedings.

PHOTO: (Supplied)