NUMSA,+Forklift+drivers+six-year+fight+pays+off

//Press statement for immediate release//

 * August 14, 2006**

=Forklift driver’s six-year fight pays off=

Elated forklift driver, Ephraim Seloga’s career again took off like a rocket after he was granted R158 000 compensation by his employer for unlawful dismissal.

The Labour Court arbitration also ordered that Seloga be reinstated, after his daring job searches all proved fruitless for the past five years.

Criterion Equipment, which unlawfully dismissed Seloga for allegedly threatening his supervisor also paid an additional compensation of about R37 000 as a final settlement in lieu of Seloga’s reinstatement.

NUMSA had referred the dismissal of the 36-year old father of three children to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to push for his reinstatement, also demanding that he should be treated fairly. But the company took the CCMA ruling in favour of Seloga on review which was dismissed with legal costs.

“I am grateful, most certainly, about the outcome of the protracted dispute as I had lost all my valuable belongings, including furniture after they were repossessed for defaulting payments. Had it not be for Numsa, I believe this final outcome would not have been possible,” Seloga said.

In another development, the Johannesburg Labour Court also confirmed the compensation award in respect of Johannes Malatjie, aged 55 who was unlawfully dismissed by Highveld Steel after serving the company for almost 32 years.

The acting judge Justice Cele described the dismissal of Malatjie as substantively unfair and gave order that he should be reinstated with retrospective effect from the past five years and with no loss of benefits and salary.

Although Malatjie was prepared to go back to work, management has insisted that he should consider taking a retrenchment package as it could not find a suitable placement position for his age.

A long- time Numsa member, Malatjie pointed out however that he was still bitter with the manner in which he was dismissed although he was happy with the outcome of Numsa’s efforts to fight for his reinstatement, he said.


 * For more information contact:**
 * Mziwakhe Hlangani, national Numsa information officer**
 * Cell phone: 082 940 7116**

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