Labour Court Victory for IMATU Member in Promotion Dispute
Professionalisation 1 – Favouritism 0
IMATU Stops Municipality from Sneaking in Unqualified Candidate
IMATU’s Western Cape Region has secured a significant legal win, after the Labour Court dismissed the George Municipality’s attempt to overturn a previous arbitration award which ordered that our member should be promoted.
In George Municipality v IMATU obo Bennet and others [2025] ZALCCT 27, the Labour Court confirmed that the employer committed an unfair labour practice by appointing a candidate to a senior HR position who did not have the required NQF Level 7 qualification, effectively denying our member a fair opportunity for promotion.
The judgement reinforces that:
- Appointments must follow transparent and merit-based processes;
- Deviating from clear advertised requirements undermines fairness; and
- Workers who meet the advertised requirements must be given a fair opportunity for promotion.
This outcome is direct step forward in achieving IMATU’s mid-term conference goals of professionalising the local government sector. It also demonstrates that IMATU will not allow qualification standards to be bent at the expense of deserving IMATU members!!
Professionalisation is the future. Local government deserves better.
IMATU IS BUILDING IT, CASE BY CASE!!!
