Latest news with #Mngoma
The Citizen
04-08-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
R21m for dismissals: Unfair firing of two costs Mpumalanga department dearly
Legal fees add nearly R40m more to the total bill for province department The Mpumalanga department of agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs has come under fire for spending more than R20 million paying two former employees for unfair dismissal. This information is contained in the department's portfolio committee's recently released report. Mpumalanga department employees dismissed unfairly According to the report, the Labour Court ordered the department to pay R21 million to the two senior officials as their dismissal was found to be both procedurally and substantively unfair. 'The court ordered the department to pay retrospective compensation from the date of dismissal (2009 to 2024) and reinstate the employees,' the report says. The department told the committee that the payments would not affect service delivery because they were drawn from the compensation of employees' allocation. ALSO READ: Municipality granted time to challenge R700k employee payout order According to the document, the department incurred more than R30 million in legal fees associated with the two employees. 'In some circumstances, the department incurred no cost orders as the court did not make an order against the department. The department paid R1 554 000 between October 2024 and March this year, bringing the total amount paid during the 2024-2025 financial year to R39 516 536,' the document reads. Factors that could lead to wrongful dismissals Labour analyst Bukani Mngoma said there were many things that could have contributed to the situation that the department finds itself in. He said it might happen that they were given bad legal advice. 'Sometimes dismissals are wrong and management may know, but they pursue it because it may serve a political consideration, or they want to get rid of an employee who knows too much, or is a stumbling block to doing a corrupt act. ALSO READ: Legal Practice Council administrator accused of corruption loses Labour Court bid 'It is rare that such dismissals are a result of sheer incompetence, as there are too many people involved before an employee is finally dismissed. 'There is no way that in this chain of involvement no-one is picking up that the dismissal will cost the entity heavily,' said Mngoma. Public sector dismissals generally costly Mngoma said dismissals in the public sector were generally costly because of the high salaries employees get compared to those in the private sector. He said the seniority of the employee also made the dismissals even more costly. He added that the other factor was that it takes time before the matter can be finally decided, particularly if the employee was reinstated, because they may need to be paid from the date of dismissal. 'So, the longer the matter has taken, the more expensive reinstatement becomes. I say this because if the employee wins the case but is only compensated, there is a legal capping of 12 months' payment of compensation, irrespective of the period the matter dragged on. 'What I have also noticed is that investigations in the public sector take too long, as they want to get absolute proof as if the matter is in a criminal court.' ALSO READ: Intoxicated doctor loses Labour Court case after claiming white substance was peppermint, not cocaine Tersia Marshall, a DA member in the provincial legislature, has called on the department of public service and administration to consider placing a cap on the number of times it takes government departments to resolve cases of suspended or fired public service employees. Department spokesperson Zanele Shabangu did not respond to questions sent to her on Wednesday.
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Gigaba set for PhD after airing of ex-wife's explosive tell-all episode on ‘Untied'
UJ is also expected to confer a PhD on fellow politician Mmusi Maimane during the graduation ceremony. Malusi Gigaba is set for a PhD from the University of Johannesburg Picture: Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images via Getty Images Just a week after his ex-wife Norma Mngoma's explosive episode was screened on Showmax's United, Member of Parliament Malusi Gigaba was announced as among the 2 163 graduates at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) winter graduation ceremony. The institution's graduation ceremony is being held between 16-31 July, and Gigaba will be conferred with a PhD. Gigaba holds a Bachelor of Pedagogics in Education from the University of Durban-Westville, where he studied from 1989 to 1990. He obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Social Policy from the same university from 1992 to 1994. He currently serves as the co-chair of the joint standing committee on defence. These ceremonies are specifically for candidates who met the graduation requirements between 1 January and 31 March, 2025. The ceremonies will take place at the UJ Auditorium on the Auckland Park Kingsway Campus. UJ is also expected to confer a PhD on fellow politician Mmusi Maimane during the graduation ceremony. ALSO READ: Gigaba's ex-wife on leaked sex video: 'We were blackmailed for almost six months' Norma on marriage to Gigaba Mngoma features on the fourth episode of Untied, a talk show series that unpacks the complex world of divorce through the stories of famous women who have lived it. Untied is hosted by Relebogile Mabotja. Gigaba attempted to halt the airing of the episode by taking the matter to the Johannesburg High Court; however, the court dismissed the bid last week, allowing Showmax to broadcast it. In the episode, Mngoma reflects on their relationship, detailing how it began and how it eventually came to an end. In 2014, after Gigaba's marriage to his ex-wife was finalised, the ANC member and Mngoma tied the knot. Mngoma said the wedding, held at the Durban Botanic Gardens, cost about R6 million to R7 million. She said the wedding and marriage didn't stop Gigaba's alleged mistresses from hassling her. According to Mngoma, it reached the point where Gigaba was allegedly being blackmailed by some of the women. 'Others, they wanted him to cancel the wedding. 'Then I'm gonna tell your wife this and that,' it was just a lot. He made me believe that these things were not true and not existing.' Mngoma alleged that during this time, Gigaba was more focused on keeping a 'clean' public image of the couple. 'In the beginning, he never paid so much attention to fixing things in the house. He was more of how the public sees him… and then he's posting me,' she said. Mngoma alleged that Gigaba would make up excuses not to attend therapy sessions he initiated. She recalled that at one point, Gigaba accused a therapist, who is white, of being racist. 'Or sometimes he will say 'no, the therapist is DA'. He used to have a reason why he's not continuing, and I will find another one,' Mngoma said. 'He was more focused on fixing the [public] image… us, the Gigabytes. And then he's posting me writing long captions, and people are clapping for him, how much he loves so loud.' NOW READ: 'It's important for women to have these conversations': Sonia opens up about marriage to Matthew Booth
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Gigaba's ex-wife on leaked sex video: ‘We were blackmailed for almost six months'
Gigaba attempted to halt the airing of the episode by taking the matter to the Johannesburg High Court; however, the court dismissed the application. Norma Mngoma's episode on Untied has finally been aired after Malusi Gigaba tried to halt it. Picture: Supplied The ex-wife of Malusi Gigaba, Norma Mngoma, has given insight into the 2018 leaked video of the politician's private sex video 'We were blackmailed, I think [for] almost six months. They were demanding like money, I think it started from a million,' said Mngoma in the latest episode of Untied on Showmax. Mngoma shared how the figure decreased from the initial one million to approximately R800,000. 'He was negotiating with some comrades about it. But for me, I didn't know what was this video until the person called me because he [Gigaba] didn't tell me that time,' she said. She alleged that the person blackmailing them had first blackmailed her over the video, prompting her to speak to Gigaba about it. 'He acted like it's our video, but we've never done a video [sex tape] together. And all along, he was acting like [it was] a video of us. He knew very well that it was a video of himself alone. So he lied until the day the video was leaked,' she said. Mngoma said she felt sorry for Gigaba when she found out that he was trending on a pornographic website. 'I knew one day this obsession of him and the nudes…so he will use those pictures, he will put them there in his iPad, and then he will open the porn while he is sitting there doing his work.' ALSO READ: Malusi Gigaba's attempt to halt broadcast of ex-wife's explosive episode on 'Untied' fails Norma Mngoma speaks Mngoma features on the fourth episode of Untied, a talk show series that unpacks the complex world of divorce through the stories of famous women who have lived it. Untied is hosted by Relebogile Mabotja. Gigaba attempted to halt the airing of the episode by taking the matter to the Johannesburg High Court; however, the court dismissed the matter last week, allowing Showmax to broadcast it. In the episode, Mngoma reflects on their relationship, detailing how it began and how it eventually came to an end. The 50-year-old Mngoma said she first met Gigaba at an event, where the politician sent one of his bodyguards to ask for her number. 'I was like, why? He must come here. He must ask [for] my number himself because for me, if you want something you must go get it yourself. And then he came, I gave him the number,' she said. The IT specialist said she was attracted to Gigaba's dark skin tone, his attire in a suit, and that he spoke isiZulu. She stated that she wasn't aware that Gigaba was a public figure. Mngoma said that when they started dating, she received messages from Gigaba's wife at the time, who was separated from the politician as they were going through a divorce. She also said she received a slew of messages from other girls on social media, telling her about Gigaba's alleged true nature. 'He was like, 'No, they're jealous'. I felt like that as well, I felt like they are jealous,' said Mngoma, chuckling. ALSO READ: Malusi Gigaba blocks screening of ex-wife's tell-all Showmax interview Marriage In 2014, after Gigaba's marriage to his ex-wife was finalised, the ANC member and Mngoma tied the knot. Mngoma said the wedding, held at the Durban Botanic Gardens, cost about R6 million to R7 million. She said the wedding and marriage didn't stop Gigaba's alleged mistresses from hassling her. According to Mngoma, it reached a point where Gigaba was allegedly blackmailed by some of the women. 'Others, they wanted him to cancel the wedding. 'Then I'm gonna tell your wife this and that,' it was just a lot. He made me believe that these things were not true and not existing.' Mngoma alleges that during this time, Gigaba was more focused on keeping a 'clean' public image of the couple. 'In the beginning, he never paid so much attention to fixing things in the house. He was more of, how the public sees him…and then he's posting me,' she shared. ALSO READ: 'The commission has nothing do with our divorce' – Norma Mngoma 'The therapist is DA' After years of being contacted by Gigaba's alleged girlfriends, Mngoma said she took the initiative to do her investigation about the politician's alleged infidelity. 'I started checking his phone because when someone sent me a message, I wouldn't go to him like I used to before,' she said. To put her at ease, Mngoma said the member of parliament would recommend therapy. 'And how this therapy will happen, maybe he will attend it two or three times. So we will go, and when we are there at the therapy, he's acting like it's his weakness, he doesn't know how it happens. The third time he doesn't wanna go; he says 'no', the therapist is personal,' said Mngoma. Mngoma alleges that Gigaba would make up excuses not to attend therapy sessions he initiated. She recalled that at one point, Gigaba accused a therapist, who happens to be white, of being racist. 'Or sometimes he will say 'no, the therapist is DA [Democratic Alliance]'. He used to have a reason why he's not continuing, and I will find another one,' Mngoma explained. 'He was more focused on fixing the [public] image…us, the Gigabytes. And then he's posting me writing long captions, and people are clapping for him, how much he loves so loud.' Mngoma said she didn't stay with Gigaba because she wanted his money. 'When he met me, I had my own cars, I had my big house — I had a standalone in Bryanston.' 'I wanted our marriage to work.' The pair has two sons. Their divorce was finalised in 2021 and NOW READ: 'It's important for women to have these conversations': Sonia opens up about marriage to Matthew Booth
TimesLIVE
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Gigaba unwavering in bid to gag former wife's tell-all TV interview
Former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba says he is actively exploring all available legal options against Goat Production and Showmax, which will be airing his ex-wife Nomachule Mngoma's tell-all interview next week. On Wednesday, the Johannesburg high court struck from the roll his urgent bid to stop Mngoma's interview about their failed marriage, and allegations of infidelity and pornography. The court said the matter lacked urgency. 'To clarify, the court didn't dismiss the case on its merits; rather, it was not viewed as urgent by the court. The court didn't rule on the substance of the case,' said Gigaba's spokesperson Palesa Komane. 'Consequently, the substantive issues at the heart of this matter — including the alleged malicious exploitation of personal matters, the protection of minor children, and the vindication of Mr Gigaba's dignity and privacy — remain to be heard, and will now proceed through the standard legal processes,' she said. Komane said the legal action was to secure an interdict against the broadcast of 'unsubstantiated claims, to protect minor children from unlawful exposure under Section 12 of the Children's Act, to uphold Mr Gigaba's right to dignity and privacy and to prevent individuals from seeking fame and fortune by exploiting his family name through false narratives'. She said the intention was not to gag freedom of expression but rather to pursue and uphold his fundamental right to dignity and privacy. 'While Mr Gigaba respects the court's procedural decision, the substantive issues of this case are yet to be adjudicated upon. 'The production house's refusal to provide the full script, episode, or podcast before the proceedings remains a significant concern, as it severely hinders his ability to understand the full context of the allegations made.' Mngoma's episode will be aired on July 15.
TimesLIVE
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Norma Mngoma's 'Untied' episode to air on July 15 after court ruling
Showmax will air the interview with former finance minister Malusi Gigaba's ex-wife Nomachule 'Norma' Mngoma in which she speaks about their failed marriage, allegations of infidelity and pornography on July 15. The streaming service made the announcement on Thursday, just a day after the court threw out Gigaba's application to stop the broadcast of the interview. 'Next week, it's Norma Mngoma's turn in the spotlight, with her episode of Untied airing on Tuesday July 15. She'll share her journey through marriage, divorce and how she's found the strength to pick up the pieces and start over,' said Showmax publicist Katlego Molubi. Gigaba argued in court papers that Mngoma's interview would 'taint my good name and dignity I have been rebuilding from the past years after [divorce]'. In responding papers, MultiChoice said Mngoma would not be conducting an in-depth TV interview about her marriage to Gigaba for the first time.
