One Woman’s Battle Against the System
By Nicolene Appolis
For over 2 years, I have been fighting a battle not just for myself, but for every worker who has suffered unfair treatment, corruption, and legal injustice. My case involves Saldanha Bay Municipality, Stellenbosch Municipality, Bergrivier Municipality and a disciplinary process riddled with conflicts of interest, missing records, and legal violations — yet no one in power is willing to provide answers.
A Flawed Disciplinary Process
On December 5, 2022, I appeared before a disciplinary hearing for Saldanha Bay Municipality. However, the municipality appointed Mrs. A. De Beer—an official from Stellenbosch Municipality, where I worked for 12 years — to oversee my hearing. This is a clear conflict of interest, yet my objections were ignored.
Over the next four months, I repeatedly requested official minutes of the hearing, which I am legally entitled to under the Municipal Systems Act, the Labor Relations Act, and the Constitution. Neither Mrs. De Beer nor the municipality provided them. Despite this, on June 8, 2023, Mrs. De Beer dismissed me from my job.
The Missing Evidence & Ongoing Legal Battle
Adding to the injustice, at the time of my hearing, I had already filed an unfair discrimination case (C553/2022) in court, which was directly linked to the charges against me. Mrs. De Beer had full knowledge of this, yet she proceeded with my dismissal without addressing this legal conflict.
Because of these irregularities, I refused to participate in mitigation, as I could not defend myself without the missing minutes and evidence.
A Costly Fight for Justice
I did not stop fighting after my dismissal. Since then, I have taken my case to:
✅ The Labour Court
✅ The LPC (after paying thousands of rands to a corrupt lawyer)
✅ Legal Authorities who continue to ignore key evidence
I have spent thousands of rands trying to get justice in a system that seems designed to protect those in power.
Why Won’t Authorities Respond?
I have repeatedly asked for answers from Saldanha Bay Municipality and Stellenbosch Municipality. Despite my legal right to this information, they have ignored my requests.
*** To ensure transparency, Cape Coast News (CCN) formally contacted Saldanha Bay Municipality for comment. Instead of responding to the serious allegations, their media spokesperson, Ethne Lawrence questioned the legality of CCN, a distraction tactic that avoids accountability.
A Call for Justice
Nicolene: “I will not be silent. My case is not just about me — it represents every worker who has been unfairly dismissed, every employee who has been denied due process, and every person who has fought corruption and injustice.
I demand answers from:
I demand answers from:
📌 Saldanha Bay Municipality
📌 Stellenbosh Municipality
📌 Bergrivier Municipality
📌 West Coast Distract Municipality
Every legal authority responsible for upholding justice
More to Come…
“This is only the beginning, i will be publishing follow-up articles as I continue my fight for justice. I encourage anyone who has faced similar treatment to come forward and share their story.
This article is written by Nicolene Appolis and reflects her personal experiences and allegations. Cape Coast News (CCN) has reached out to the relevant authorities for comment, but no response has been provided at the time of publication. CCN serves as a platform for individuals to share their experiences and does not take a stance on the allegations made. Follow-up articles will be published as more information comes to light.
