Govt Spokesperson Phuti Seloba back at work
Seloba, accompanied by provincial and regional leaders of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), reported for duty on Monday, 17 February.
POLOKWANE – The Office of the Premier has implemented an order by the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council (GPSSBC), to reinstate Provincial Government Spokesperson, Phuti Seloba.
Seloba resumed duty last Monday, in spite of a letter delivered to him on the previous Friday that the Office of the Premier intended to appeal the decision to reinstate him.
The Bargaining Council found his suspension to be procedurally illegal and unfair.
Seloba, accompanied by provincial and regional leaders of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), reported for duty on Monday.
Upon his arrival on Tuesday he was denied access to the building, however, and a notice displayed in the guardhouse stated that he should not be allowed entry as he was still on suspension.
Nehawu on 18 February issued a statement accusing the Premier, Stanley Chupu Mathabatha of disregarding institutions and the laws of the country, citing a legal order to uplift Seloba’s suspension and warned him about fruitless and wasteful expenditure being perpetuated by disregarding the order to suspend Seloba.
Nehawu reminded the premier’s office of the avenues available to pursue to review the order in accordance with the Labour Relations Act.
Seloba was suspended on 6 November 2018, following allegations that he had been divulging sensitive information to the opposition.
Seloba challenged the suspension in the GPSSBC on the basis that it was procedurally illegal and unfair.
His employer however proceeded with a disciplinary hearing in which the opposition testified in January 2020.
At the GPSSBC hearing, evidence was led that Seloba received the charges after he wrote a letter to the employer with a reminder that his 60-day suspension had lapsed last year. It was also testified that news of the suspension was published in the media even before the letter of intent to suspend was issued to him.
The premier’s Spokesperson, Kenny Mathivha reportedly said last Wednesday that Seloba’s suspension had been lifted, and confirmed that he would be allowed to resume his duties.
