Controversial Metro FM DJ Phat Joe is in hot water again

This time the DJ, real name Majota Khambule, is accused of unfair labour practice.

Phat Joe, who hosts the Metro FM radio show The Real Phat Joe, has been reported to the CCMA for allegedly dismissing his long-time domestic worker via SMS.

It is the second controversy the DJ has been involved in recently.

Last week the Sunday World reported that Phat Joe and co-host, Pearl Thusi, had been suspended by the SABC after listeners complained to the public broadcaster that the “duo allegedly daily bashed” their colleague Bonang Matheba and rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes on the show.

Matheba and AKA have been in the spotlight after it emerged that they had a relationship behind DJ Zihle Jiyane’s back. The rapper and Jiyane have a daughter together.

Domestic worker Nontembiso Vumazonke last month reported Phat Joe to her union, the SA Domestic Service and Allied Workers’ Union (Sadsawu). It plans to report him to the CCMA and the Department of Labour after he ignored its calls and emails.

“The celebrity entertainer and radio personality known as Phat Joe is better known to Sadsawu as Runaway Joe as he refused to speak to the union to answer to the charges of unfair dismissal of his domestic worker of five years,”  the union said in a statement.

“Vumazonke has worked for Phat Joe for three day per week since July 2011. This unregistered worker was effectively ‘dismissed’ via SMS. When she tried to contact the employer after her leave period, he would not answer the phone.”

According to the union, when Vumazonke went to the Phat Joe’s home she found he had already employed someone else in her place.

“Haibo, Phat Joe! This is not on. You are contravening so many of this woman’s human and employment rights and hiding your head in the sand will not resolve this issue for you. Sadsawu will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and you will be charged and taken through the process at CCMA for an unfair dismissal order against you, with all the requisite compensation as a form of restitution for the employee; and the to the Department of Labour for your deliberate failure to register your domestic worker, which effectively means that you are causing her further hardships as she cannot claim from the Unemployment Insurance Fund due to your negligence.”

Phat Joe could not be reached for comment.