Dina Pule’s former spin doctor, Wisani Ngobeni, has lost a labour court bid to save his government job, the Sunday Times reported.
Ngobeni, a former journalist, was Pule’s spokesman when she was communications minister.
He was fired by the department on 27 June after being found guilty in a disciplinary inquiry held in his absence.
Ngobeni applied to the labour court to set aside the dismissal and disciplinary steps against him.
On Friday, the court reportedly dismissed his urgent application.
Ngobeni, who was suspended in April, was charged with five counts of misconduct related to hiring a service provider that allegedly inflated prices. He was found to have links with the company.
Judge Robert Lagrange said Ngobeni was unable to explain why he could not use ordinary litigation to obtain the relief sought on an urgent basis.
Ngobeni had failed to demonstrate that no suitable alternative relief was available to him, or that he would suffer irreparable harm if he could not obtain immediate relief.
Lagrange said if Ngobeni was proven right in proceedings in due course, he would be entitled to full recompense and his position would be restored. — Sapa