By OBAKENG MAJE
The South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) said it could not make any ruling on the labour practice case filed by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) against the embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM).
The SAMWU-affiliated employees, approached the SALGBC for arbitration after the municipality vehemently refused to pay them a monthly R2500 for danger allowance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the municipal employees embarked on a protracted strike after allegations that, the Director of Corporate Services, Dikagiso Mokoma paid senior managers and directors a monthly R2500 as danger allowance, instead of R1500, which was a standard flat rate agreed upon.
The municipality launched an investigation against Mokoma’s alleged misconduct and appointed an independent firm, Matshego Ramagaga Attorneys.
According to Ramagaga’s report, Mokoma allegedly misled the previous council on danger allowance for the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in the municipality losing R508 500 due to Mokoma’s alleged misconduct.
Now, the chairperson of SAMWU in the Greater Taung Local Municipality, Modipadi Ruele said: “The purpose of today’s meeting was an arbitration sitting. However, the case could not continue because the dispute was not filed within the required 90 days. So, we had an agreement to apply for the condonation.
“We believe that, we have a winnable case against the municipality over the danger allowance issue. We will be patient and wait for that day to come. However, if our workers decide that we take the legal route, we will do so.”
Some community members classified the situation at the embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), as being at medium risk for deterioration.
One of the community members, Benjamin Mashuga said there is a grim reality in the municipality, which is a direct result of municipal mismanagement. Mashuga further said the future of the residents looks bleak if the municipality is not going to be guided by the Municipal System Act.
The Guardian 