Axed Truckers Sue For Unfair Dismissal
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday November 9, 2015 12:09
Panye said their contention is that the video clips which were used as evidence against the employees was fabricated. “The video clips that they used as evidence against the drivers was shot by the police. Besides that being against the practice, the video was edited by the employers,” he said.
Panye, who was part of the disciplinary hearings for all the employees said from the hearings, he picked contradictory statements that deemed the video evidence stale. “When the suspects were arrested, detective Superintendent Sergeant Marapo said he had been doing the investigations over time and that the police owned the camera that was used. But during the hearings, the employers said the security guards owned the camera,” he said. He further said one of the managers said the video was certified and handed to them by the police on September 27.
Panye further accused Marapo for conspiring with the Grindrod Petrologistics management to get rid of the employees. “In March we reported to the police that there were some employees at the company working without permits and the matter was handled by Marapo. Five months down the line he comes and arrests the workers and forgets about the reports they made,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Marapo dismissed the accusations levelled against him stating that he knows nothing about their dismissals.
Even though the company’s managing director, Todd Mangadi, denied that employees were dismissed, this publication has seen 27 dismissal letters for the employees. Mangadi would not be dragged into discussing the matter stating that the disciplinary process is ongoing.