Central SA
Centlec CEO dismissal battle with manager heads to SCA─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 14:10 Fri, 19 Dec 2025
The long-running legal battle between Centlec’s communications manager and the entity’s CEO is heading to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.
Free State High Court judge Sharon Chesiwe has dismissed Centlec CEO Malefane Sekoboto’s leave to appeal the earlier judgement granted in favour of communications manager Lele Mamatu. Mamatu won his controversial dismissal case against Centlec in July, when Judge Pitso Molitsoane granted an order in his favour.
The ruling prompted Sekoboto to urgently seek leave to appeal the judgment. However, it failed after Chesiwe dismissed the application with costs.
In delivering her judgement, Judge Chesiwe addressed one of the central issues raised by Sekoboto, namely Mamatu’s inability to sign his affidavit for the review application. She noted Mamatu had been admitted to hospital at the time, a fact which ruled out the urgent application lodged by Sekoboto.
“Already on the 21 July 2025, the applicant’s legal representative informed the respondents’ legal representative that the applicant was not medically fit when they sought indulgence. However, that indulgence was refused by the respondents.
“If the applicant’s application had to be heard in the normal court, he would not have obtained substantial redress and would have suffered prejudice in respect of his salary, medical aid and his health.”
Chesiwe also ruled it was unnecessary for the matter to have been enrolled as one of urgency. The parties should have engaged with one another regarding the launching of the review application and the implications of the court order issued on 1 July, she said.
“It was for the parties to negotiate with each other regarding the launching of the review application as well as to consider the court order dated 1 July 2025. The applicant’s non-compliance with the rules relating to the time period, form and service for bringing the application is condoned and that the matter be heard as urgent in terms of Rule 6(12)(a) of the Uniform Rules,” Chesiwe ruled.
The order handed down by Judge Molitsoane on 1 July was revived, she added. That order directed Mamatu to institute the review application timeously after being discharged from hospital and once he was able to give instructions to his legal representatives.
In addition, Machini Motloung Attorneys were directed to communicate promptly, on a weekly basis, with Sekoboto’s attorneys of record regarding Mamatu’s health condition. The court also ordered that each party pay its own legal costs in relation to that order.
