130 Joburg employees jobless after Labour Court ruling
Some 130 Joburg municipal employees are now out of a job following the Labour Court's ruling on Tuesday.
Delivering his judgment on Tuesday, Judge Andre Van Niekerk struck the matter off the roll.
The South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) took the City of Joburg to court earlier this year amid a fallout over contracts after the acting city manager Mesuli Mlandu signed off on the council's decision to reverse the permanent employment of some staff.
The notices of regularisation would see the 130 contracts of employees attached to political offices converted back to fixed term, ending in April.
But the union's bid to save those jobs was dealt a massive blow by the Labour Court.
The ruling effectively means the contracts of 130 odd workers expired on April 30.
Union leader Thobani Nkosi says the employees were left distraught by the decision.
"They've not been at work since December, they were told in December not to come to the office but now the unfortunate thing is that they are not going to be paid at the end of this month.
"They are highly frustrated and tressed. They are going to lose a lot of things, they have made long term commitments with banks, your bonds, cars, school for kids so a lot is going to turn around in their lives."
Nkosi adds the union is considering its option.
"That's what we are still considering - that are we going to the high court or approach the ConCourt straight.
"That decision will be made tomorrow in our meeting with our legal team," says Nkosi.
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