FF Plus flags financial risk in proposed permanent appointments at Sol Plaatje Municipality

THE FREEDOM Front Plus has raised serious concerns over the proposed permanent appointment of 497 contract workers at the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, warning that the move could have severe financial consequences for the embattled council.

In a media statement, FF Plus Member of Parliament for the Northern Cape, Kobus van den Berg, said the municipality simply cannot afford to absorb the workers into permanent positions.

While labour unions have welcomed the decision as a victory for workers who have been employed on contract for years, Van den Berg pointed out that the appointments have not yet been approved by the municipal council. Should the council fail to ratify the decision, it could trigger widespread labour unrest.

While acknowledging that it is unreasonable to keep employees on contract indefinitely, the FF Plus argues that the financial impact of making the positions permanent would be massive. In addition to higher salary obligations, the municipality could face claims for retrospective benefits, further straining its already fragile finances.

Sol Plaatje Municipality has long struggled with cash-flow challenges. According to Van den Berg, the municipality has often relied on funds that were meant to be paid to Eskom and the Department of Water and Sanitation to remain operational. Critics say this practice has compounded service delivery failures and deepened the financial crisis.

The timing of the proposed appointments has also drawn criticism. Van den Berg questioned the creation of hundreds of permanent posts shortly before an election, arguing that such decisions do not serve the interests of taxpayers.

He further warned that workers employed under the Expanded Public Works Programme may now demand similar permanent appointments, setting a precedent that could result in unsustainable public sector job creation.

More broadly, the FF Plus cautioned against what it described as excessive job creation at ANC-controlled municipalities in the run-up to elections. The party claims many of these municipalities are already effectively bankrupt and warned that public funds must not be used as a tool for political campaigning.

The matter is expected to be debated in council, with both labour stability and financial sustainability hanging in the balance.