Councillors hit with costs

DETERRENT: LITIGANTS TO FOOT BILL FOR APPLICATION FROM THEIR OWN POCKETS - COURT

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

The Labour Court has passed a ruling that will serve as a lesson to rogue councillors to refrain from subjecting municipal officials to emotional, politically inspired decisions and personal vendettas.

The court ordered that, instead of using taxpayers' money, litigant councillors should pay the cost of the application out of their own pocket if they lost the case.

This was after Ditsobotla municipal manager Olaotse Bojosinyane, who was fired within six months of his employment, was reinstated immediately by the court, which declared his dismissal unlawful.

The ruling meant the mayor, Mazwi Moruri, and acting municipal manager Rasupang Mooketsi and all councillors in the municipality would pay the cost of the application unless they convinced the court why they should not do so.

Judge Molatelo Makhura also ordered that the municipality, Moruri and Mooketsi should not prevent the municipal manager from reporting for duty, but facilitate his unhindered return.

But when Bojosinyane reported for duty on Monday, he was barred from entering his office.