KOMANI – Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality has confirmed that it has initiated legal proceedings to recover six municipal vehicles attached by the Sheriff of the Court following a labour dispute involving a former employee.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 12 November 2026, the municipality explained that the attachment followed proceedings before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
According to the municipality, it was not afforded a fair opportunity to present its case during the arbitration proceedings because the notice of the hearing was allegedly not properly served.
The municipality claims that the notice was sent to two private email addresses belonging to a former employee in its Human Resources Division, instead of being delivered to its official designated email address or offices.
As a result, the municipality says it was unaware of the hearing date and was not represented when the matter was heard. The CCMA subsequently issued an award in its absence.
The municipality maintains that this amounted to a procedural irregularity and a violation of its right to a fair hearing.
Despite the attachment of the vehicles, the municipality said it did not interfere with the Sheriff’s duties, acting on legal advice to avoid any conduct that could constitute contempt of court.
The municipality has now initiated legal steps to have the CCMA award rescinded and to secure the release and return of the six vehicles while the matter is being resolved.
It reiterated its commitment to respecting the rule of law and following the appropriate legal processes.
Further updates are expected as the legal proceedings progress.
The municipality’s statement did not disclose the value of the dispute, identify the former employee involved or specify which municipal vehicles were attached.
