BMWU Accuses AG Of Meddling
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday November 16, 2015 15:44
The union wrote to Molokomme on October 10, alleging that the Registrar of Trade Unions and AG senior state counsel, Puso Motlhabane held a meeting after court session recently with disgruntled members to advise them on how they can file another case.
In their letter general secretary, Mbiganyi Ramokate said: “We would like to know what role the registrar and the Attorney General seek to play by encouraging the union’s members to revolt against their union and to undermine the registration of the new National Executive Committee (NEC) carried out by the registrar.
Our position is that by countenancing or inciting escalation of further contemptuous conduct against a democratically elected leadership, Motlhabane is exceeding his mandate and is now meddling in internal affairs of the union”.
He said they need an explanation, which would assist them to understand whether or not the AG is part of a scheme to destabilise the union under pretext of Section 44.
Ramokate said they saw the registrar, applicant’s attorney, Wema Isa, Motlhabane and their two members, Marius Kruger and Baphuthi Goshetwang, holding the meeting.
In their meeting, Ramokate said AG Chambers attorney, Motlhabane advised the applicants to file further complaints or case under Section 44 of Trade and Dispute Act on why the new NEC members changed office locks, why there was a preliminary handover meeting involving new NEC members, why the new NEC members signed the audited financial reports and why they sold shares.
AG said a complaint had been lodged with the registrar who is represented by the Attorney General.
“The registrar demanded evidence before taking any action. What was stated in submissions is what Section 44 provides.
We were simply saying if evidence exists an application is possible under Section 44. The submissions were discussed in the informal talk outside court,” AG Chambers public relation officer, Caroline Bogale-Jaiyeoba said. She said they are aware of the letter written by BMWU, but they do not have any interest as AG Chambers in de-stabilising the union.
“I am not aware of such a meeting, however, it is true that after court the parties mentioned had an informal talk outside court regarding what had just happened in court. This was actually mentioned in court and the court records will evidence such utterances,” she said.