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MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

THREE EMPLOYEES LOSE CASE AGAINST NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY (NWU)

Mafikeng Campus - Three former employees of the NWU-Mafikeng Campus were unsuccessful in a review application which they had brought against the University in the Labour Court recently. Thabo Molelekeng, Tabane Matshego and Kitchener Semuli were the President and 1st and 2nd Deputy Presidents of the Staff Association respectively. They were found guilty by a University disciplinary committee on 7 January 2007 on charges of gross insubordination and/or any other act aimed at defying authority in the presence of subordinates and inappropriate language and remarks. The disciplinary hearing stemmed from an unauthorized and unprotected protest march that was held on 22 November 2006.

The decision of the disciplinary committee was taken on internal review, but the review committee upheld the decision and their services with the University were accordingly finally terminated. The former staff members then approached the High Court of Bophuthatswana and the Committee for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for an order to review and set aside the rulings of the disciplinary committee, but the University successfully opposed the applications.

Finally they turned to the Labour Court. The court application was also opposed by the University and on 1 December 2009 the Court found in favour of the University. The employees and the Staff Association, which had been a party to the matter, were ordered to pay the University’s legal costs.

Issued by the Rector of the North West University Mafikeng Campus, Professor Dan Kgwadi Enquiries: Koos Degenaar, Director Marketing and Communication, Mafikeng Campus North-West University 0795198283, email: [email protected]

Date: 9 December 2009