Pretoria -
The ANC Youth League has “condemned the continuing victimisation” of former consumer commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi whose contract expired on Monday.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi had been fighting to save her job, taking the Department of Trade and Industry to the Labour Court several times and arguing her contract should be extended based on her performance and other factors.
But Minister Rob Davies argued he was under no obligation to renew the contract. The court agreed.
Youth league spokeswoman Khusela Sangoni-Khawe said on Monday the league had met concerned commission employees and some small businesses to discuss the “continuing victimisation” of Mohlala-Mulaudzi.
Sangoni-Khawe said the reasons given by Davies for not renewing her contract were “frivolous”.
A decision to renew the contract should “consider, among others, the performance of the incumbent in her role”, Sangoni-Khawe said.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi had an outstanding track record since her days as the pension fund adjudicator, ”fearlessly” taking on “massive pension funds in defence of South Africans”.
She had done sterling work at the Department of Communications, where she was director-general, despite being removed from her position owing to her differences with the then minister, Sangoni-Khawe said.
Last week, Davies appointed Mohlala-Mulaudzi’s deputy, Ebrahim Mohammed, as the acting commissioner until the position is filled.
Davies thanked Mohlala-Mulaudzi for her contribution to the commission and wished her all the best.
Mohlala-Mulaudzi could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Sangoni-Khawe said under Mohlala-Mulaudzi’s “steady leadership” the commission had “determinedly fought for the rights of consumers, rattling the cages of big business that continues to fix prices and collude to the detriment of South Africans”.
: We are left with no doubt that Mohlala-Mulaudzi’s dismissal is nothing but an attempt to continue to protect big business in South Africa.”
She called on Davies to properly assess her performance and, in line with fair labour practice, give her concrete reasons for not renewing her contract.
Davies declined to comment.
Pretoria News