Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi who got stuck in faulty lift ordered to reinstate fired deputy director-general

Pretoria – The Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, who was so upset that she had to spend about an hour trapped in a faulty lift that she fired her deputy director-general, has been ordered by court to reinstate her.

The Labour Court in Johannesburg made it clear that the minister’s conduct was unlawful as she had not followed procedure when firing Nelly Letsholonyane.

Acting Judge M Makhura said: “The minister’s conduct was unlawful. Such conduct should not be condoned by courts of law. This court cannot and should not turn a blind to the injustice and lawlessness.”

Not only did the judge give the minister a tongue lashing, he also slapped her and her department with Letsholonyane’s legal costs.

Letsholonyane, 61, who is only a few years away from retiring, turned to the labour court on an urgent basis to get her job back.