Bitou municipal manager seeks urgent court interdict to halt disciplinary process

Suspended Bitou municipal manager Mbulelo Memani has launched an urgent application in the Labour Court asking for an interdict to stop his ongoing disciplinary process and to be reinstated to his position. Memani argues that procedural errors have plagued his case, including the dismissal of his preliminary legal challenge and the municipality’s failure to provide key documents. He claims the disciplinary timeline has lapsed under senior managers’ regulations, rendering the process invalid.

In his founding affidavit, Memani describes the charges against him as “trumped‑up” and says they stem from superficial investigations rather than substantive findings. He says that attempts to remove him only began after he started probing irregular expenditure flagged by the Auditor‑General, and that the disciplinary hearing has yet to properly start. Memani also notes that his security access was removed when he returned from suspension, preventing him from carrying out his duties.

The respondents in the case include the disciplinary chairperson, Bitou Municipality and Mayor Jessica Kamkam, and the municipality has confirmed it will contest the interdict. If successful, Memani’s application could halt the disciplinary process entirely, potentially leading to his reinstatement and exposing deeper management challenges within the municipality. Critics argue the dispute highlights ongoing governance and accountability concerns in local government.