Makhandlela was retired from the public service by the permanent secretary to the President in April last year. The two parties came before Justice Moses Chinhnengo for arguments last Thursday. Tshekiso Tshekiso of Kgalemang and Associates represented Makhandlela, while Sefelani Thapelo of S. Thapelo and Associates represented the PS to the President. Tshekiso's contention is that his retirement at the age of 52 was not in the public interest.
Tshekiso wants Makhandlela to be reinstated and paid such salary and benefits he would have earned had he not been retired. Tshekiso argued that the PSP's decision of retiring his client on the basis that he was above the age of 45 was not good enough. "The entire service of the person to be retired must be looked into. And whatever the PSP does, has to be in the interest of the public," Tshekiso argued. "PSP is obliged to give reasons for retiring a public servant. They have been given the discretion that when a person reaches 45, they must look at whether or not to retire looking at his purpose," added Tshekiso.
