Staff reporter
Leribe – The Department of Social Development has finally paid Thabo Mahlaba after giving MEC Mathabo Leeto an ultimatum.
Public Service Association (PSA) on behalf of Mahlaba had given Leeto till 3 February 2025 to pay.
This after Bargaining Council ruled in favor of Mahlaba, the commissioner agreed with Mahlaba that his suspension was “unlawful” in 2023.
PSA approached CCMA last year and the bargaining council order was confirmed in September, the department was ordered to pay Mahlaba no later than 15 October 2024, but no payment was done.
In January 2025, PSA wrote to Leeto and only after we published the article State Attorneys reached out to PSA requesting a round table discussion to settle this matter.
When PSA blueticked the round table request, State Attorneys informed PSA the client is processing payment.
PSA official who spoke on condition of anonymity said they rejected the round table.
“We rejected the settlement meeting because we knew what they wanted, they paid our member and this matter is settled.”
Asked what the department wanted our source said AGSA.
“They wanted to propose a notch settlement instead of monetary because them paying ,it was going to be a red flag and AGSA is going to declare that fruitless.
Remember they paid State Attorneys no less than R300 000 to fight this and they still lost, they spent almost six times what they were defending.”
The department will be in labor court on the 7 April 2025 to defend another bargaining council’s report after it ruled in favour of NEHAWU.
Bargaining Council ordered Social Development to pay Dibuo Mabitle R880 000 and appoint her as Director: Youth Development.
The position is currently occupied by Isaac Ngozo, ANCYL regional secretary after transfer, he had been appointed to a different position only to be transferred to Youth Development within months in the new position.
There is also another PSC investigation after employees asked President Ramaphosa, African National Congress, SAHRC and Public Protector for help.
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