By REGINALD KANYANE
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) came out gun-blazing and says it refuses to be silenced by corrupt municipalities in North West. SAMWU Secretary-General, Dumisane Magagula said they are enraged following attempts by a clique in the province to silence the union from blowing the whistle on rampant cronyism, corruption, maladministration and theft of municipal resources with impunity.
“We cannot allow the last line of defence for workers and communities to be silenced and turn a blind eye when the much-needed municipal resources are dried up by individuals who have no interest in service delivery, but rather the filling of their pockets and those of their friends and families.
“Recently, the union exposed evil intentions of the Tswaing Local Municipality to illegally sneak 127 individuals into its payroll. Instead of addressing these issues, the municipality responded by suspending 24 workers and ultimately dismissing the union’s Provincial Secretary, Vincent Diphoko and another member, Mogale Morwe,” Magagula said.
He further said the sins of those suspended were nothing but a ploy to threaten and intimidate workers from exposing the rot that is in the North West Municipalities.
However, Magagula said they maintain that the intention by the municipality to sneak 127 individuals into its payroll is because those who are in charge are not motivated by strengthening service delivery, but rather extending patronage and securing employment for their friends and families before the next local government elections.
“The municipality simply does not have the money to pay these people. These vacancies have not been approved anywhere and not budgeted for. Most importantly, the municipality is bleeding resources and it cannot pay workers their overtimes, third parties such as medical aids and pension funds have not been paid in over two years.
“This is the same municipality that is failing to honour its payment arrangement with Eskom, leading to constant power interruptions at great inconvenience to residents and businesses,” he said.
Magagula said the cowardice act of the municipality and the clique operating in the province is nothing but a provocation of workers and union-bashing. He added that they will not allow their members to be used as sacrificial lambs for executing their union and civil duties by exposing the rampant corruption in municipalities.
“Corruption has resulted in the collapse of the province’s municipalities as stated by consecutive Auditor General reports. Recently, we have seen the Hawks working overtime, crisscrossing the province’s municipalities raiding offices and arresting thieves.
“Surely people think that by silencing workers who are vocal and against the rot in municipalities, that they will not get their opportunity to be given a lift in the now-famous Golf 7 GTI,” said Magagula.
He calls on all workers, particularly in municipalities in the North West to continue blowing the lid on corruption. Magagula said the union will explore all legal avenues at its disposal to ensure that two dismissed and 24 suspended workers are re-instated and protected.
Meanwhile, the ANC Interim Provincial Committee chairperson, Hlomani Chauke has written to the IEC to deregister the municipal mayor, Lydia Malwane, speaker, Phemelo Lobele and Whip, Thabo Morei.
Democratic Alliance MP, Carìn Visser said: “The DA in North West noted the ANC Interim Provincial Committee’s (IPC) declaration of vacancies on their Proportional Representation (PR) list after a decision was taken to replace the Tswaing Local Municipality’s Mayor, Lydia Malwane, Speaker, Phemelo Lobelo and Whip, Thabo Morei.
It is however interesting to note that the letter was issued to councillors on 2 November but is dated 27 October. According to the letter, the decision to replace the Troika was already taken on 12 October.”
Visser said it is disappointing that the ANC would be aware of the total collapse of service delivery for years, but only take action after the DA wrote to President Ramaphosa last week.
“The fact that the Municipal Manager, Isaac Moruti, has not resigned yet, is a display of his shameless refusal to take responsibility for the collapse of service delivery that left residents without access to water, waste removal and sanitation services for the past six weeks.
“The DA will proceed to table a motion that seeks his suspension and removal, as we can no longer stand by while public servants are failing their mandate of serving communities,” said Visser.
The Guardian 