Dear Minister Gordhan

I hereby would like to beg your indulgence on the abovementioned subject.

In July 2016 Transnet suspended 41 employees who worked at Transnet Port Terminals DCT Pier 2 Landside – Tower 205 and subsequently unfairly dismissed on 27 October 2016. The went on to arbitration. Transnet did everything to drag and frustrate the process until December last year where they made their final submission. The Arbitrator awarded in favour of the employees on 11 January 2018 and instructed that they be reimbursed their dues by 25 January and reinstated not later than 31 January 2018. Transnet has decided to take the matter on review in the Labour Court, even in this instance making sure they drag the process in every possible manner. I have attached the Arbitrator’s Award hereto. As reflected on the contents of the Award, even to date, Transnet still hasn’t filed for the review of the Award in the Labour Court even though it was issued on the 10th of January

I would also like to bring to your attention that Transnet solicited the services of a Private Company to preside over the hearing of these employees and the person who chaired the hearing was a certain Ms. Smangele Shabalala. She was paid close to R500 000. I would like for you to investigate the authenticity of the Letters of Dismissal which bear her signature even though she was never an employee of Transnet. During the hearing, she was in the employ of A.P. Shangase and Associates but has since joined the Special Investigations Unit. How does an appointed private firm representative be the one who signs dismissal letters and gets paid so much for work done over 16 days?

It has also come to my attention that Transnet is signing new OLEs (Operator Lifting Equipment staff) yesterday. These are the same positions that were occupied by the 41 unfairly dismissed employees. How does Transnet replace these workers when the Arbitrator’s award has not been filed and challenged at Labour Court?

Honourable Minister, some of these employees have lost their assets and properties, they all have families to feed and in this list you have couples (husbands and wives). This uncaring display by a Parastatal is not acting in the interest of the people of South Africa and is not reflective of a Government which prioritises employment increment. In fact Transnet is acting against the triple challenges faced by society and that the Government is trying by all means to eradicate.

I feel it is my duty as a South African Citizen, to “Lend a hand” and bring to your attention such atrocities exerted by Parastatals to our people with an intention to find justice for our people. I request your urgent intervention on this situation Mr. Gordhan, with an intent to resolve this painful matter. I would like to believe that ours is caring Government which stands against ill-treatment of our people. I wrote to the former Minister of Public Enterprises, informing her of the same, but I firmly believe that your intervention will assist in exerting pressure to Transnet and expedite the resolution of this matter. I beg you Minister Gordhan, please help.

I wrote the same e-mail to the former Minister of Public Enterprises Ms. Lynn Brown on the 28th of February this year and I was told the matter was being dealt with by the DDG: Transport, Mr. Lebohang Ntwampe. I write to you sir, because I have not had any update on where the matter stands at the moment.

Concerned
Ayanda Gogobala