By OBAKENG MAJE

The service delivery took a backseat at the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) on Monday as junior employees downed tools. The municipal employees took to the streets for a protest march over the R2500 danger allowance saga.

The members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), which is the largest union in local government in South Africa, said they want the embattled municipality to pay them an R2500 danger allowance too instead of R1500. 

According to the information, senior managers and directors were all paid R2500 without any municipal council resolution. 

SAMWU secretary in Greater Taung, Mpho Thompson said it is not fair to junior employees to be paid R1500 as danger allowance, while office-bound senior managers and directors received R2500.

“There was a council resolution that was taken on 5 October 2022 regarding danger allowance. The resolution said those senior managers and directors who received R2500 should return R1000s from each R2500 they received.

“Now, our junior employees want to be paid R2500 too as danger allowance. We think that it will be fair if R2500 is paid across the board because a certain individual went to the council and misled it,” Thompson said.

He further said, most senior managers and directors were not exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic because they were office-bound. Thompson added that, these senior managers and directors received airtime and tablets as most were working from home.

“Now, the R2500 that was intended for danger allowance, the municipality has used it for overtime and standby. According to the policy, senior managers and directors are not allowed to get overtime or standby allowance. 

“So, those who were supposed to get danger allowance are junior municipal employees because they were exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, while on the ground and ensuring that there is service delivery,” said Thompson.

He said, even though they did not lose any members through the COVID-19 pandemic in the municipality, SAMWU has lost many members nationally. Thompson said their members have given the municipality until Monday to respond to their demands.

IMATU secretary from the Greater Taung, Kagiso Mogatusi said: “It was actually not a strike per se, but municipal employees needed clarity on the danger allowance matter. However, IMATU was not part of that, but employees actually wanted to meet with the municipality’s leadership to get clarity on whether the municipality will meet their demands or not.

“No, SAMWU was there, but we have discussed that as IMATU because we wanted to follow proper channels and ensure that the municipal council leads us. So, I do not want us to use the word strike because the employees just wanted clarity from the municipality on whether the municipality will meet their submission or not.”

Meanwhile, the municipal mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe failed to respond to our phone calls and WhatsApp messages regarding the matter before going to print.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

  

By OBAKENGNMAJE

Most of the residents of Manawana and Dibono village near Mahikeng who benefitted from the donkey carts project worth R780 000 from the North West Community Safety and Transport Management department are left dejected. 

This comes after some of the newly-donated donkey carts broke down just two days after receiving them. It is alleged that the 2-seater donkey cart cost R32 500 each, while 4 seater is R45 500 each.

One of the beneficiaries, Mokete Mokoloko (38) said, he nearly died after his donkey cart broke its underslung axle. Mokoloko said he was ferrying pupils to school in Masutlhe village when the accident happened.

“We urge the government to design proper donkey carts of a high standard. I am so disappointed about what happened, but by the grace of God, no one sustained injuries. These donkey carts are defective and of sub-standard quality. They are not even ergonomic and suited for terrains.

“Most of them have fallen apart because they are defective. I ferry pupils from our village to the nearby school, but I have since reverted back to my old donkey cart because it is much stronger than the one donated by the government,” he said.

Another resident, Marriam Mokgobenyane shared the same sentiments. Mokgobenyane who questioned the criteria used to identify the beneficiaries lambasted the government and also accused it of taking people for granted. 

“The North West Provincial Government (NWPG) takes us for granted. Instead of donating vehicles because they are more viable, they donate donkey carts of low quality.

“I also want to understand the criteria used to donate these donkey carts because most of the pensioners here have not received them. I am a pensioner, who stays with my mother and she is 99 of age. We are struggling with transport when we have to take her to the hospital or town,” she said.

Mokgobenyane further said, instead of the government building RDP houses and roads, it will rather waste money on sub-standard donkey carts. She added, they are struggling with inaccessible roads, especially during the rainy season.

It is also alleged that these donkey carts have been languishing in storage at Mahikeng Airport since 2014.

However, the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said: “All procurement processes were followed and the distribution of these animal-drawn carts is in line with the national Rural Transport Strategy. The carts were manufactured in Lonely Park in Mahikeng and locals were employed in the project.

“As part of the contract with the department, the service provider, LKT Business Enterprises will maintain and fix the carts for the next three years at no cost to the owners. The twenty carts were procured for a total of R 780 000 inclusive of the three-year maintenance plan.”

Meanwhile, the department said it will hold a media briefing, later on, to clarify the allegations that the procurement was non-existence. The owner of the alleged company, LKT Business Enterprises which was used for procurement, told the 24-hour TV News channel, Newzroom Afrika that, she knows nothing about the procurement of this project. 

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