Pretoria - Embattled national consumer
commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi urged Trade Minister Rob
Davies on Wednesday to extend her employment contract.
"I believe I have worked very
hard. I have excelled," she told the National Press Club in
Pretoria.
"I have gone beyond my call of
duty. In fact, myself and the (consumer commission) team have made
sure consumers are better off."
She said she wanted her contract, which
expires on September 3, to be renewed for a further five year term.
"I love my job and would love to
continue in my position as consumer commissioner. I believe that for
any institution to be effective, you need to give it between three to
five years."
The commissioner said approaching
courts over the contractual debacle with the trade and industry
department was a last resort, following failed bids to engage Davies.
"The court process has really been
my last port of call. I have attempted on many occasions to (set up)
meetings, to get an audience to resolve this matter, but it is also
important for me to protect my rights."
In June, the Johannesburg Labour Court
dismissed Mohlala-Mulaudzi’s application to interdict Davies from
terminating her contract.
Her application was dismissed with
costs.
In dismissing the application,
presiding judge HS Cele said Davies had complied with the
government's labour procedure and it was inappropriate for
Mohlala-Mulaudzi to complain before a new candidate had been
appointed.
The commissioner had approached the
court after Davies sent her a letter on May 21, notifying her of his
intention not to renew her contract when it expires in September.
Following the stifled court bid,
Mohlala-Mulaudzi said she was negotiating the way forward with her
legal team.
"I am still in discussion with my
legal team as to how we are going to take the matter forward. Very
soon we will have a clear picture as to where we will be taking the
matter," she said.
On Thursday, Mohlala-Mulaudzi brought
consumers to the media briefing who she said had been assisted by the
consumer commission.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi first took Davies'
department to court in May when her position was advertised, stating
her employment agreement was violated as she was not consulted before
the advertisement was placed.
The Labour Court ruled on May 18 that
Mohlala-Mulaudzi's contract would indeed end in September.