Councillors have rejected a proposal to settle out-of-court in a long-running legal dispute between Municipal Manager Dr Pravine Naidoo and Makana Municipality.
Councillors have rejected a proposal to settle out-of-court in a long-running legal dispute between Municipal Manager Dr Pravine Naidoo and Makana Municipality.
Around six years ago Naidoo took the municipality to the Labour Court after his removal from office.
He demanded to be reinstated, or that the municipality pay him over R5 million. This is the equivalent of the MM’s total remuneration package calculated over five years, which was R5 100 000 at the time.
Labour relations officer Xolani Mbeleni proposed the municipality’s lawyers begin settlement negotiations.
Reporting to Council, Mbeleni said it needed to give its approval for the municipality’s lawyers to begin settlement negotiations.
The move was proposed and rejected at a confidential special council meeting held on Thursday 6 June.
Municipal Spokesperson Mncedisi Boma said Council had given the go-ahead for lawyers to represent the municipality.
Last month Naidoo’s lawyers wrote a letter to Executive Mayor Zamuxolo Peter, which Grocott’s Mail has in its possession, asking him to continue with settlement negotiations.
“Our client is desirous of speedily resolving this long outstanding matter and does not wish to enter into protracted litigation herein in the interest of both parties,” the letter read.
Sources within the Council indicated that councillors didn’t support the recommendation for an out-of-court settlement.
Instead they requested that facts about the case be brought to Council for discussion in the next meeting.
Municipal Spokesperson Mncedisi Boma said Council decided that the Mayor be given the go-ahead to assign lawyers to represent the municipality.
When asked for more details about the meeting Boma said, “I refuse to further comment on the matter.”
