Flamingoes/ Gaokgorwe Dispute Referred To Labour Office

FRANCISTOWN: A labour dispute between Sua Flamingoes and welfare manager, Thatayotlhe ‘Pele’ Gaokgorwe has been referred to the district labour office after both parties failed to reach an amicable agreement on Thursday.

Gaokgorwe confirmed yesterday in an interview that he has referred the matter to the district labour office in Francis- town.

He took the club to the labour office citing unfair termination of his contract, which he said was agreed verbally in January this year and was to end in December.

He left the club in June. “I will serve the club with the papers from the Industrial Court this week. We did not peacefully resolve our differences before the mediator which is why I have resolved to approach the Industrial Court,” he said.

At the hearing Flamingoes were represented by its chairperson Tirelo Thebe. The latter has often said that the club ended its relationship with its former welfare manager lawfully. The chairperson has also maintained that the club cannot discuss its internal affairs with the media in detail.

According to sources, the club’s position is that the contract with Gaokgorwe started in June last year and ended in June this year.

Gaokgorwe maintains that last year there were no football activities and as such they never had any verbal agreement with Gaokgorwe to work for the club.

Gaokgorwe alleges that his first salary was effected at the end of January which bears testimony to the fact that his 12-month contract started this year. The club also has an on-going case with its former general manager, Thomas Motsewakhumo. The latter alleges that he was unfairly dismissed by Flamingoes after he questioned why his April salary was cut in half.

The club on the other hand maintains that it sacked him for insubordination. Both parties have reportedly been invited to submit evidence by the court.