Johannesburg - The department of trade and industry must withdraw a
letter ending the contract of National Consumer Commission (NCC) head
Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi, the Labour Court ruled on Friday.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi complained to the court that the
department had acted unfairly by advertising her post before giving her
the opportunity to renew her contract, Business Day Online reported.
"Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies was ordered to
suspend recruitment and withdraw the letter terminating my contract,"
Mohlala-Mulaudzi was quoted as saying.
The minister was ordered to consult her about the matter, and then give her the chance to respond.
Judge Robert le Grange ruled that Mohlala-Mulaudzi had
been serving the remainder of her two-year contract with the department
of communications.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi was appointed NCC head in 2010,
following an out-of-court settlement with the communications department,
after her removal as department director general by former
communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda.
The court reportedly found she had the option of
renewing her contract for five years, depending on the outcome of the
consultation between her and the minister.
Business Day reported that Mohlala-Mulaudzi's legal
representative, Graham Mushoana, said the department had ten days to
comply with the court order, failing which his client would have to file
for contempt.