Top City official fights demotion

Urgent application brought in the Labour Court

- THAMI MAGUBANE

A SENIOR eThekwini Municipality official dashed to the Labour Court in Durban this week to prevent the City from demoting her over a qualifications row.

The City's head of health, Rosemary van Heerden, brought the urgent application for an interdict after she was informed that she needed to revert to the former position of deputy health head by July 1.

Court papers show that the decision to demote her came after an investigation found that she had been erroneously promoted to the senior post.

When the matter came before the court on Monday, an order was taken by consent of the parties. In terms of the order, van Heerden is allowed to remain in her post while the matter is heard in court.

The consent order states that the application was adjourned until August 25 for arguments, and the municipality is directed to hold her demotion in abeyance pending the finalisation of the application. The municipality must deliver any replying affidavits on or before July 14.

At the centre of the issue is the allegation that van Heerden did not have the required qualifications for the senior post when she was interviewed and appointed.