Court orders the reinstatement of 78 workers dismissed during Phalatse's tenure
When the Democratic Alliance-led coalition took over mayoral duties in Johannesburg 2021, it dismissed 130 workers it deemed political appointees of the previous administration.
Mpho Phalatse / Wikimedia Commons: Staff photographer in the employ of the Democratic Alliance
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg has been ordered to reinstate 78 workers who were dismissed during the tenure of Mpho Phalatse as mayor.
When the Democratic Alliance-led coalition took over mayoral duties in Johannesburg 2021, it dismissed 130 workers it deemed political appointees of the previous administration.
However, 78 of those workers approached the High Court, arguing their contracts were converted from fixed to permanent employees.
At the heart of the two-year dispute between the dismissed workers and the City of Johannesburg, was whether former mayor Geoff Makhubo acted lawfully in March 2021 by converting a number of employees' contracts from fixed to permanent.
On the 25th of February 2022, the DA-led administration said the conversion was unlawful and accused the workers of corruption.
A month later, the city rescinded the conversion and subsequently dismissed the workers.
However, a ruling by the Gauteng High Court on Thursday, has found the conversion was lawful and followed all municipal processes.
The city was also ordered to pay the costs of the workers’ counsel.