The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is on the wrong end of an unfair dismissal case after its former spokesperson, Castro Ngobese, claimed he was sacked even though he wasn’t in the wrong.
Ngobese’s case is set down for April 8 at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) after he accused Numsa of “deliberately delaying” internal processes “so they can see me at Grayston offramp, begging”.
Ngobese said he hasn’t had any income since he was fired in February and the fact that his appeal hearing was only set down for next Thursday (31 March), was an indication that the process was dragged out on purpose to make him suffer.
In February The Citizen reported that Ngobese was fired after being absent from work for more than 15 days. Ngobese, however, said he had authorisation to take an extra week’s leave in January, as well as sick leave because he was unwell. “When I came back I was just given a letter of dismissal. I was told I was absent for 15 days from work. But they initiated an internal process and said I can appeal my dismissal, of which I’m currently busy with that. But I’ve been worried, it’s been very slow. For three months I have had no income. I thought if I take the matter to the CCMA, I can get justice sooner,” he said.
CCMA cases are considered on the same day.
Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim confirmed that Ngobese’s appeal was underway, but he declined to comment further. Numsa president Andrew Chirwa, through whose office the appeal is being done, could not be reached for comment and he declined to respond to a text message.
Ngobese said he’s served Numsa “with loyalty for seven years” but was “on the street now, unemployed, and can’t look after myself or my dependents”.
Numsa broke away from the ANC-led alliance in 2014 to form a United Front, and it was expelled from trade union federation Cosatu last year. The trade union is set to hold an elective conference later this year.