Sol Plaatje casual workers disrupt SPU graduation as unions push for permanent jobs

SOL PLAATJE Municipality casual workers disrupted a graduation ceremony at Sol Plaatje University on Monday morning after failing to receive letters of appointment that they say had been promised.

The workers demanded to address executive mayor Martha Bartlett and Speaker Dipuo Peters, who were attending the ceremony.

Last week, union members occupied the Sol Plaatje council chambers, threatening to shut down service delivery unless the municipality permanently absorbs hundreds of long-serving casual workers.

Following engagements, the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) stated that strike action was not off the cards until all casual workers are permanently employed.

Services, including refuse removal, were suspended and an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting was disrupted last week after 125 contract workers were not absorbed as promised, in line with a prior commitment made last year.

Following negotiations, Samwu local chairperson Ronney Morwe said on Friday that letters of appointment would be signed on Monday, February 9.

“A municipal manager will have to be appointed on Monday during a special council meeting and the first 60 workers will get their letters. The remaining 65 workers will be appointed at the end of the month. The starting date will be March 1,” Morwe said.

Despite claims that there was a shortage of money, Morwe said he believed the municipality had available funds to permanently employ 497 workers in line with a 2025 council resolution.

“Where did the money come from for the promotion of an official in the Corporate Services Directorate, plus backpay? We will open a case with the Special Investigating Unit. It seems there is only no money for blue-collar workers,” he said.

Morwe also noted that the municipality’s legal fees were “skyrocketing”.

“The municipality is in and out of court with public money, while we still do not have a permanent municipal manager,” he added.

Imatu Sol Plaatje branch chairperson Glen Lang said the unions were also calling for the removal of officials implicated in an investigation report that pointed to irregular appointments or dubious recruitment processes.