Metro police in legal bid to set aside award

THE ethekwini Metro Police have filed a review application to review an arbitration award to reinstate a senior police official. The award issued last month by the bargaining council stated that the suspension of Nhlanhla Mthethwa, a project executive at the metro police, was unfair and ordered that he be paid R180 000 compensation within 14 days.

The award involved allegations made by metro police that he had made death threats to an official in human resources.

Mthethwa had allegedly clashed with the official over vacant posts within the unit.

However, police management were ordered to finalise its internal inquiry by January 17 and, in failing to do so, Mthethwa was ordered to return to work on January 22. However, upon his return, he was denied access to his office.

His attorney, Reg Thomas, said: “They (the police) brought an application to review the bargaining council award that reinstated him and we have also filed an application asking the court to make the award from the bargaining council an order of the Labour Court,” he said.

“He returned to work but they have not given him access to his office. They are of the view that since they are reviewing the award of the bargaining council, the award should not be given effect to, which is absolute nonsense,” said Thomas.

Both applications are set down for the Labour Court next Friday.