By OBAKENG MAJE
Service delivery is on the brink of collapsing at the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM). This comes after the municipal employees down tools on Tuesday over R2500 danger allowance.
According to these employees, the municipality should pay them R2500 for danger allowance, instead of the R1500 that was agreed upon. It is alleged that, the directors and senior managers have received R2500 as a danger allowance during the COVID-19 pandemic, while general workers only received R1500.
The GTLM’s acting municipal manager, Andrew Makuapane addressed the workers and said the council resolution is that, the municipality does not have money. However, things took a different turn when the municipal mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe, who was also part of the meeting, ‘threw’ Makuapane under the bus and told employees that the municipality has enough money.
This caused mayhem as workers went berserk. They went to the streets and threw faeces and littered the Taung Central Business District (CBD) including municipal offices. They also vowed not to return to work until their grievances are addressed.
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) chairperson in the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Modipadi Ruele said, the workers have taken a resolution that, they will down tools until the municipal council takes a resolution that is in their favour.
“It is disheartening that these employees were at the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured that, there is service delivery. However, the municipality is now ill-treating them,” Ruele said.
The IMATU chairperson in Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Goitseone Gill shared the same sentiments. Gill said, the strike was caused by the disparity in the danger allowance issue.
“We have realised that senior managers and directors received R2500 as danger allowance, while general workers only received R1500. You must remember that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decision taken that each employee must get R1500 across the board.
“So, our bone of contention is to understand why there was a disparity in the danger allowance. As IMATU, we want our employees to be compensated accordingly. What the workers want, is to be paid R2500 and we do not want to dwell too much on consequence management issues,” he said.
It is alleged that, the Director of Corporate Services, Dikagisho Mokoma was suspended for misleading the council over the R2500 danger allowance. According to the report, there was no council resolution that said, directors and senior managers should receive R2500 as a danger allowance, while general workers should receive R1500.
Azania Independent Community Movement (AICM), Tebogo Monchonyane said: “On Monday, the council was sitting discussing various items including the suspension of Mokoma. Now, what happened is that, the investigation report into the allegations of misconduct against Mokoma was tabled by Matshego Ramagaga Attorneys and Conveyancers as it was appointed to conduct investigations.
“The findings of the report are implicating Mokoma and suggest that she has misled the previous council. So, as opposition parties, we have adopted the report and called for a disciplinary hearing against her. However, the ANC councillors have declined the adoption of the report and suggest that the report be deferred for three weeks.”
Monchonyane said, what is surprising is that, the ANC councillors want Mokoma to return to work.
Meanwhile, the Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said: “Remember, the municipal manager does not speak as an individual, but the council resolution. If the council says there is no money and they would not be able to pay employees, that is the resolution of the council.
“However, where I am sitting as the mayor, I know that the municipality has enough money. But at the same time, it is only the council that should decide on whether to pay employees or not.”
Gaoraelwe said from an individual perspective, it is not fair what is happening to these employees, but he cannot divorce himself from the council resolution. He said the council resolution is binding, even as unfair as it is.
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