Masetlha takes dismissal issue to Constitutional Court

He will argue that Mbeki had no powers in terms of the Constitution to amend his contract. Mbeki shortened Masetlha’s contract, which was due to end in December this year, to March 22 last year. He will also submit that a public servant cannot be dismissed without a fair hearing. Mbeki terminated Masetlha’s contract because he believed the relationship of trust between them had broken down irreparably. Masetlha’s dismissal followed his suspension by National Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils in October 2005, pending the outcome of a probe of claims of misconduct allegedly related to the unauthorised surveillance of businessman Saki Macozoma. Masetlha unsuccessfully applied late last year in the Pretoria High Court to have his dismissal set aside. Full report in The Weekender