Official axed in 2004 still fighting to get job back

FORMER municipal manager Dr Pravine Naidoo, who was fired from the Makana Municipality for misconduct in 2014, has vowed to continue his fight to be reinstated.

Signalling that his battle was far from over, Naidoo vowed to fight on following a SA Local Government Bargaining Council decision last week which dismissed his bid to be reinstated at the municipality.

Naidoo approached the council after a similar bid at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration failed.

The council last week found in favour of Makana Municipality and Naidoo’s application was dismissed with costs.

Naidoo, who has been involved in a long, drawn-out labour dispute with the municipality since his dismissal – which resulted from misconduct in terms of the Municipal Systems Act – claims he was unfairly dismissed.

However, in its ruling, the Port Elizabeth-based branch of the bargaining council found that his dismissal was lawful.

According to documents from the council, arbitrator Marion Fouche said: “The dismissal of Dr Naidoo was substantively and procedurally fair. His application is dismissed and he is not entitled to any relief.”

Responding to the ruling, Naidoo told The Herald that he had received the judgment, but that the matter was not yet over.

“I cannot comment because the matter is still sub judice. However, I will be reserving my right to review the matter at the labour court . . . this is not the end of the road,” he said.

Makana Municipality acting municipal manager Riana Meiring refused to comment, saying the matter had not yet been tabled in the council.

“I must first submit the award to the council . . . I will make a comment after that,” she said.

The EFF’s Mzwandile Qotoyi said the party would comment on the ruling once it had viewed the judgment, while the DA’s Mlindi Nana said the party was happy the council had found in favour of the municipality.