“The appointment is unlawful and irregular, while staff were denied an opportunity to apply for the post,” says union.
TYRES were set alight outside the Riverton Pleasure Resort on Monday morning as protesters objected to the appointment of an official.
Municipal workers dressed in overalls and community members chanted outside the premises, while protest action was later relocated to the main road leading into the pleasure resort.
The local chairperson of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), Daily Semau, said that they wanted the appointment to be rescinded as recruitment procedures were not followed.
“The vacancy has neither been advertised internally nor externally, while the moratorium on the appointment of staff has not been lifted. We do not know what the appointed official’s credentials, skills, qualifications or experience are. The post of resort manager has been filled by acting staff on a rotational basis for the past five years. All of a sudden someone from outside was appointed without due processes being followed. We believe that this is a political appointment,” said Semau.
He stated that union members were not on strike, although they disagreed with the appointment.
“The appointment is unlawful and irregular, while staff were denied an opportunity of applying for the post. It is believed that the appointed candidate was a former prison warder.”
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Sello Matsie said they were aware of the employees’ unhappiness.
“Management is looking into the issue and has urged workers not to resort to violence,” said Matsie.
He added that entry into the resort was blocked by the protest action on Monday.
