Firefighters lose court bid against suspension

Johannesburg – Over 200 suspended Joburg firefighters; who were suspended over an unprotected strike, have lost their bid at the Labour Court to interdict their suspension.

  In July the firefighters refused to attend to call-outs, citing concerns over the non-assignment of supervisors; and accused Emergency Services management of not adhering to the National Health Act.

  Municipal workers union Demawusa, representing the firefighters, approached the Labour Court for an urgent interdict, arguing their members were suspended unlawfully, and that deductions were wrongfully made from their salaries.

  On Thursday the Labour Court said it lacked jurisdiction to rule on the validity of their suspensions.

Emergency Services spokesperson Nana Radebe said: “They didn’t see the matter as unlawful due to the firefighters not performing their duties.”

  Those suspended include basic ambulance assistants, intermediate life support officials and firefighters.