UPDATE: City services under siege

SOUTH African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) members in Kimberley have vowed to intensify protest action if they do not receive satisfactory answers from Sol Plaatje Municipality on the absorption of contract workers.

Refuse collection did not take place on November 5 due to a go-slow, while a scuffle broke out at the council yard in Ashburnham when police officers tried to prevent municipal workers from setting tyres alight.

“Los die tyres, vat die gun (leave the tyres, take the gun),” one worker exclaimed in a video posted on social media.

Loud applause erupted when the workers managed to wrestle the tyres away from police officers and set them on fire.

Some workers indicated they had been working on contract for the past 17 years.

“If something happens to us, or we get injured on the job, we don’t have medical aid, unemployment insurance or death benefits for our dependents,” they said.

Aggrieved workers said they would camp outside the council yard until they were appointed permanently.

“The work is increasing and vacancies are not being filled, so we are doing double the work for the same pay.”

Others were upset that a senior Samwu official had apparently received a promotion, although this could not be confirmed.

Protests may escalate

Samwu full-time shop steward Vuyisile Mengena stated that 498 workers were supposed to be absorbed on June 1, in line with a council resolution.

“Protest action will escalate if we do not receive any satisfactory answers. Contract workers are employed in all areas, so services including refuse collection, cleansing, water, sanitation, and electricity will be affected,” Mengena warned.

He said that, according to the suspended municipal manager, there were available funds for the absorption of the workers.

“We do not know what the cause of the delay is. A number of workers were supposed to have already been absorbed in the first quarter. It is almost the end of the year and no implementation has taken place.”

Samwu and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) were invited to a Local Labour Forum (LLF) meeting on November 6, where the financial implications of the absorption of workers would be discussed.

Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said the acting municipal manager, Busisiwe Mgaguli, and mayoral committee members Nomizizi Shwababa and Isaac Ruiter addressed the workers.

“The meeting ended amicably. The matter will be discussed at the LLF,” he said.

Public disorder

SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said members of the Kimberley Public Order Police (POP) unit responded to a public disorder incident at the Sol Plaatje Municipality yard.

“It was reported that municipal casual workers allegedly converged at the municipality gates where they demanded to meet the municipal manager, and in the process a fire was started. The police responded and managed to control the situation and resolve the matter without any serious injuries reported,” he said.

Municipal manager remains suspended

A special council meeting, which was closed to the public, was held this week to discuss a confidential report relating to the investigation into alleged misconduct by the suspended municipal manager, Thapelo Matlala.

Matlala was placed on precautionary suspension following a marathon six-and-a-half-hour special council meeting held on September 16.

Allegations against Matlala involving the awarding of municipal tenders and appointments are under scrutiny.

Calls to dissolve council

Meanwhile, Justice4All, Women Waging War on GBVF, and Abahambe have forwarded a petition this week calling for the Sol Plaatje Municipality to be dissolved and by-elections to be held in all 33 wards, due to alleged inaction in addressing service delivery failures and human rights violations highlighted by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), as well as dissatisfaction with the performance of ward councillors.

They are demanding the establishment of community oversight mechanisms to restore accountability and prevent a recurrence of corruption, abuse and neglect.

A call was also made for lifestyle audits, a forensic investigation and the vetting of councillors.