After fighting the City for his position as ombudsman for the most part of the year, Advocate Sdu Gumede‘s disciplinary hearing will now only conclude in February.
This according to his attorney, Jayson Kent from Cowan-Harper Attorneys, who has been representing Gumede in the matter. Gumede has been embroiled in a long legal battle with the City ever since he was suspended in May this year and again faced accusations at a hearing which started on 11 December.
His disciplinary hearing would have been held on 28 and 29 September but the City was reportedly not ready to proceed with the case since new lawyers still had to be appointed. The City removed its legal representation in the matter shortly after the Labour Court dismissed the City’s appeal of the ruling, which found that the suspension was unlawful.
During the 29 November council sitting, the 2017/18 first quarter oversight report on the office of the ombudsman was adopted.
The African National Congress (ANC) said the oversight revealed that the community does not know the office and its purpose well.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) also expressed concern over the office. They questioned the financial implications the office has by paying both a suspended and acting ombud a salary. The ombudsman’s office, the EFF said, should rather spend this money on working closely with people on the ground.
Related:
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