President Jacob Zuma’s wife Nompumelelo MaNtuli-Zuma has been ordered to pay R16 000 to her domestic worker for unlawfully dismissing her, the CCMA said on Friday.
Since MaNtuli, as she is known, did not attend the hearing as required by law, the commissioner issued a default award, Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration spokesperson Lusanda Myoli said.
“A default award was issued based on the testimony given by the applicant.”
MaNtuli was ordered to pay the money within 14 days of receiving the ruling.
On Thursday Ilanga newspaper reported that MaNtuli did not pay her domestic worker Sbongile Doris Ngobese the full salary that they had agreed upon, and didn’t follow correct procedure when dismissing her.
Myoli said the matter was referred to the CCMA on May 12.
“The referral form indicated that the applicant [Ngobese] was allegedly dismissed on April 29 2010 and the reason for dismissal was unknown.”
Since MaNtuli was not present at the hearing she could still apply for the order to be revoked by giving a valid reason for not attending the hearing, and the matter could be heard again.
Ngobese was employed in August last year for R2 000 a month. MaNtuli reportedly asked Ngobese to quit her job at St Augustine’s Hospital to work for her, Ilanga reported.
MaNtuli paid Ngobese R1 000 on February 27 and promised to pay the rest when she had money.
On March 8 Ngobese asked for the rest of her salary as she was ill and needed to see a doctor, but MaNtuli allegedly did not reply to the request.
Ngobese consulted a doctor who gave her a sick note to stay at home until March 12. On March 10 MaNtuli’s bodyguard went to Ngobese’s home and paid her the remaining R10 00. Ngobese gave the bodyguard the sick note.
The following day the bodyguard returned with the sick note and told Ngobese not to return to work on March 12.
Ngobese however decided to go back, but nobody would open the gates for her, the paper reported.
On April 29 she returned to the house with a letter asking whether she was still employed. A policewoman at the gate went into the house and returned with Ngobese’s clothing, but did not reply to Ngobese’s letter, Ilanga reported. – Sapa