Axed Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride’s unfair dismissal case did not take place as expected on Thursday because the metro’s lawyers did not arrive, his lawyer said.
Mornay Crouse said the matter would therefore be heard on Friday at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
”The respondent’s attorneys didn’t appear, they didn’t arrive,” explained Crouse.
McBride wants to be reinstated to his post after his dismissal last September in the throes of a drunk driving trial.
McBride was put on special leave in July 2007 after being charged with drunken driving, defeating the ends of justice and fraud after he crashed his metro car in December 2006 outside Pretoria.
The metro council said it would still pay his legal fees and salary until his contract expired at the end of November, but Crouse said McBride wants his job back.
The council said it would comment later on what the hitch was on Thursday.
Thursday and Friday had been set down for the hearing. — Sapa