AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
CARL Niehaus, who has been fired by the ANC, South Africa’s governing party, has vowed to fight for his job and take the party to court.
Niehaus, a former spokesperson for the ANC’s Umkhonto we Sizwe Veterans Association, which was disbanded recently, was fired for misconduct and violating the terms of his employment with the ANC. He has indicated that he will appeal his dismissal and fight it in court.
Niehaus, a well known supporter of former ANC President Jacob Zuma, was fired for issuing a media alert in which he claimed that he was going to lay criminal charges against the six most senior members of the ANC, which includes President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Mabuza.
In her letter to Niehaus, Febe Potgieter, the General Manager of the ANC, said:
“On 12 October 2020 and 19 January 2021 you were issued with a written warning for behaviour which demonstrated your total disregard, refusal and neglect to comply with the terms and conditions of your employment agreement with the ANC and which conduct was inconsistent with the code of conduct and level of discipline expected of staff members of the ANC.
“Your ‘Urgent Media Alert’ distributed on social media yesterday wherein you informed the public of your intent to lay criminal charges of theft, fraud, corruption and various statutory charges against the National Office Bearers of the ANC and your employer, the ANC; inviting the media to witness the charges being laid at the Johannesburg Police Station and thereafter promising to address the media are deliberate acts of misconduct and malice which are intended to tarnish the image of your employer and bring your employer into disrepute. It is worth noting that in your representations under consideration, you have not distanced yourself from the media alert you issued and which you were invited to do.
”In your written representations you have not provided any cogent reasons for the ANC to arrive at any conclusion other than the employment relationship between you and the organisation has completely and irretrievably broken down.”
Niehaus was ordered to collect his belongings from the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg.
He has seven days to appeal the dismissal.
Niehaus has said he viewed the party’s statement as an attack on him.
“The threat to terminate my employment with the ANC without further notice, and without a disciplinary hearing, is illegal. The short notice of a mere two and a half hours to provide reasons why I should not be dismissed is draconian and unreasonable,” he said
