The court case between the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and Makana municipality has been postponed until next year.
The court case between the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and Makana municipality has been postponed until next year.
The two parties appeared briefly at the Port Elizabeth Labour Court on Friday 17 October where the judge postponed the case for the final hearing to 15 March 2015, Samwu local leader Zola Kolisi said.
The court battle was launched by Makana in August this year after workers aligned to the union defied a court interdict and embarked on a labour strike deemed illegal.
The industrial action began on 3 July, the first day of the National Arts Festival.
This is after the municipality obtained an urgent court interdict in an effort to prevent the protest. Municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo was not available for coment. The litigation received criticism from at least one member of the legal fraternity.
A lawyer who opted to speak on condition of anonymity said the costly litigation might add to the municipality's financial woes.
Legal fees could cost Makana in the region of R150 000 to R200 000, the lawyer said. Even if Makana drops the case due to financial constraints, they might struggle to pay the union's legal costs.
In an interview with Grocott's Mail last week Makana municipality spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo said the municipality was aware of the implications of the case.
Ramokolo told Grocott's Mail on Thursday 16 October that a meeting was going take place between Makana's Labour Relations division and the newly appointed Administrator Pam Yako to discuss whether to continue with the case.
A report on the state of Makana Municipality compiled by Masifunde Education Trust mentioned expensive lawsuits aginst the municipality as one of the factors that contributed to its current woes.
Last month, Grocott's Mail reported that the municipality was unable to pay their lawyers and was, therefore, unable to defend itself in various actions.
Creditors were taking advantage of the beleaguered institution's financial situation. Rumours reached bizarre proportions, with some people saying creditors intended to attach the City Hall itself.
A source within City Hall said some creditors intended to attach municipal fire trucks and the municipal finance building, among other assets.
