The political head of the Eastern Cape education department faces arrest if he fails to appear in court next month.
Education MEC Mandla Makupula has been ordered by Port Elizabeth Labour Court Judge Zolashe Lallie to appear on January 29 or face arrest or a fine.
In the order seen by the Dispatch and forwarded to the department’s communications unit, Lallie said Makupula would have to appear in court to explain why he should not be charged with contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order made last year to permanently appointing maths and science teacher at Alphendale Senior Secondary, Eugene Thomas.
Lallie said Makupula should file an affidavit explaining his reasons before or on January 26 and thereafter appear in court on January 29.
Attempts were made to get a comment from Makupula, but were unsuccessful. When contacted for a comment, Makupula’s phone went off and further attempts to get hold of him failed.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said: “The matter is in court, and as such is sub judice. We deny that we are in contempt and will oppose the application.”
The court ruled in favour of Thomas last year after the department failed to implement an agreement with the unions to make temporary teachers permanent in 2012.
The protracted dispute left Thomas unemployed although he possessed the teaching skills, which the department said were needed critically at schools.
Speaking to the Dispatch, Thomas said he was a qualified, registered teacher and a South African citizen. “I feel totally disgusted at the arrogance and attitude of the handful of officials that I had to deal with. Numerous attempts to contact the superintendent-general and the MEC were blocked at secretarial level.”
He said he had been sent from pillar to post and had uncovered in the process that the human resources unit used its own criteria and discretion in teacher appointments.
The furious and frustrated teacher said he planned to contact the office of public protector Thuli Madonsela if the department failed to take disciplinary action to recover costs from the officials responsible for the case.
Court ultimatum for MEC
Education MEC Mandla Makupula has been ordered by Port Elizabeth Labour Court Judge Zolashe Lallie to appear on January 29 or face arrest or a fine.
In the order seen by the Dispatch and forwarded to the department’s communications unit, Lallie said Makupula would have to appear in court to explain why he should not be charged with contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order made last year to permanently appointing maths and science teacher at Alphendale Senior Secondary, Eugene Thomas.
Lallie said Makupula should file an affidavit explaining his reasons before or on January 26 and thereafter appear in court on January 29.
Attempts were made to get a comment from Makupula, but were unsuccessful. When contacted for a comment, Makupula’s phone went off and further attempts to get hold of him failed.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said: “The matter is in court, and as such is sub judice. We deny that we are in contempt and will oppose the application.”
The court ruled in favour of Thomas last year after the department failed to implement an agreement with the unions to make temporary teachers permanent in 2012.
The protracted dispute left Thomas unemployed although he possessed the teaching skills, which the department said were needed critically at schools.
Speaking to the Dispatch, Thomas said he was a qualified, registered teacher and a South African citizen. “I feel totally disgusted at the arrogance and attitude of the handful of officials that I had to deal with. Numerous attempts to contact the superintendent-general and the MEC were blocked at secretarial level.”
He said he had been sent from pillar to post and had uncovered in the process that the human resources unit used its own criteria and discretion in teacher appointments.
The furious and frustrated teacher said he planned to contact the office of public protector Thuli Madonsela if the department failed to take disciplinary action to recover costs from the officials responsible for the case.
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