“This amount of money must be drawn from his pocket” – EFF reacts to labour court judgment

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Free State has called for the HOD responsible for the mess in the Social Development and Dibuo Maputle matter to be personally liable.

This after acting Judge Govender of labour court dismissed an application by Social Development with costs.

Thwe L means the enforceable CCMA and Bargaining Council award of 4 October 2019 has to be implemented.

Anna-Maria Fourie, Commissioner at Bargaining Council ordered then:

• Dibuo Maputle be promoted to Director: Youth Development with effect from 1 November 2018
• Social Development to compensate Dibuo Maputle R880 000

Maputle was appointed by Limakatso Mahasa, erstwhile MEC for Social Development.

With the matter now put to rest, we now dissect the bargaining council’s report.

According to Fourie, Advocate Jabob Phahlo, Chief Director: Corporate Services signed the “recommendation to appoint” Dibolelo Mance two days (20 March 2018) before Me Nthongoa, chairperson of the panel signed off the “motivation” 22 March 2018) and this according to her documents were “manipulated”.

If documents are manipulated that is equivalent to fraud.

Other irregularities highlighted by Fourie is records of Maputle’s score are missing and Freddy Finger was found to be unreliable witness.

Couch Liphoko, EFF chairperson in Free State said

“We are not surprised, this is how the ANC conducts itself.

It’s done for those who are politically linked, in fact this amount of money must be drawn from his pocket.”

Maputle will not be first and certainty not the last to take Social Development to cleaners, two other employees took the department to bargaining council and won, they were paid.

With consequence management a rare activity in Free State, all eyes will now be on Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae, Free State Premier, Mathabo Leeto, MEC for Social Development and Ketso Makume, MEC for Treasury.

This is a developing story.

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