Former AmaZulu Employee Accuses Club Of Unfair Dismissal

Former AmaZulu Communications Manager Phumlani Dube has accused the club of unfair dismissal and also alleged his life has been threatened by certain people within the club.

Dube joined Usuthu when businessman Sandile Zungu bought AmaZulu’s status in October 2020, but was dismissed in November last year for alleged Gender Based Violence (GBV) – as it was claimed that he had beaten a female employee within the club. But he was later cleared before he was dismiss.

Dube said things were okay when he joined AmaZulu because Zungu was his friend, coming from the same township – uMlazi – and also having studied at the same school – Vukuzakhe High – but at different times.   

But he claims that things took a turn for the worse on his part once there was an appointment in the CEO position in 2021.

Dube went into detail regarding his incident with a female employee, which led to his dismissal from the club. 

In Dube’s version of events, he claims that she charged at him and when he pointed his fingers back at her having swore him, she dropped to the floor.

“I told her that you are out of order in the professional environment. I pointed to my finger at her and then she charged to me and she threw herself on the floor and rolled,” he recalled the incident during a press conference this week.

“After she rolled down without me touching her, she wanted to use her bruises to her advantage that I have beaten her. Then I was dismissed by AmaZulu in November for something that I have never done in beating her.

“At the hearing, it was proven that I didn’t assault her but I was still dismissed. I knew this was personal and they were trying to get rid of me. My dismissal it is before the court and CCMA for unfair dismissal. I took it because it was unfair and unjust.

“(Having said), AmaZulu have destroyed me because all my associates/sponsors that I had we have gone in separate ways, so it was important to call this press conference to set the record straight because I’m portrayed as someone who assaulted this woman when I didn’t.”

Dube, who also opened up about a lot of behind-the-scenes turmoil at AmaZulu, alleging things like excessive alcohol consume and females being brought into hotel by Usuthu employees, then described how his work at the club wasn’t good for his health.

“I was under a lot of stress and pressure at AmaZulu because I was twice admitted to the ICU,” added Dube to the hastily arranged press conference on Wednesday. 

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During the Black Label Cup in November last year on the road trip, Dube and his colleagues arrived at the Busy Corner for dinner and Dube says he felt a sharp back pain and asked for an ambulance so he can go to the hospital because the pain was unbearable.

He says that the club staff had told him that there is no need because they have a club doctor who he could see when they got to the hotel. However, he says he was surprised that the doctor wasn’t called to check on him as he ended up sleeping the whole night while feeling heavily ill.

“I didn’t know where this pain was coming from and I just remembered that this is the end of me since I was at the ICU twice,” Dube added.  

Dube, for this unfair dismissal, has since taken case to the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration) and also to the courts.    

AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu was called by the media in a conference call to answer these allegations levelled against him, the club and employers, saying it is difficult to comment because Dube has some personal problems that he can’t reveal.  

“We are in the middle of the process and Phumlani took us to the CCMA,” said Zungu.

“The case is pertaining to gender-based violence. I wasn’t there when that happened and I said ‘I’ll never interfere with the processes and they must run their course (when Dube was initially suspended before he was fired)”.

“I brought Phumlani to Usuthu (because we are friends) but I feel like he needs help and there is a lot that I have said to him with regards to his life, but it is not for me to share because it will be harmful. But let’s leave things to the CCMA.”

Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).