As I pen these words, I am filled with a myriad emotions — relief, vindication, but also a lingering sense of loss and sorrow.
February 29 was more than a mere quadrennial event for me and 129 colleagues. It was the day the South Gauteng High Court declared our employment status at the City of Johannesburg metropolitan municipality permanent.
It was nearly two years ago when the then multiparty coalition government, led by the DA, took a unilateral decision to terminate our employment contracts.
The aftermath was devastating. Families lost their homes, livelihoods crumbled, and children’s school fees could no longer be paid
Those affected were never consulted. We were simply told we would not be keeping our jobs.
Our fixed-term contracts had been legally converted to permanent by the incumbent government of local unity in February 2021, inciting a brutal political battle that rendered us unemployed.
When I joined the City of Joburg in October 2016, I had just left my job as a journalist and had no background in the public sector. But having been raised by public servants and being a sister of one, I understood the importance of the position I was about to fill, determined to make a positive impact in my role as stakeholder manager in the department of development planning political office.
My communication instincts kicked in soon enough and I was able to use my skills to develop, initiate and maintain an effective communication strategy that not only increased the department’s visibility but also informed, educated and empowered the residents of Joburg.
I carried out my duties with the greatest passion and pride. By October 2021 I was absorbed into the line department.
On March 31 2022 an SMS was delivered by the city to the company phone — my employment contract was being terminated in a month. Though it felt so impersonal after giving the city the best years of my professional career, I was relieved by the less dramatic approach.
Others relayed their trauma of how armed plain-clothed metro officers were used to deliver their letters of termination. For those affected, this was a cruel reminder of past injustices, echoing the traumas of apartheid.
The aftermath was devastating. Families lost their homes, livelihoods crumbled and children’s school fees could no longer be paid. Some even lost their lives in the struggle for justice — rest in peace, Ntate Mavela Mabuza.
Personally, I felt the sting of financial strain, forcing me to sell my first car, a symbol of hard-earned independence, as I grappled with unemployment.
Amid the despair and all that we have suffered, a glimmer of hope emerged on leap day 2024. The South Gauteng High Court delivered a historic judgment, validating our plight and affirming our right to justice. In a resounding declaration, the court affirmed that the conversion of our contracts held legal weight, rendering the city's decision to rescind them untenable. The relief we sought was finally granted.
For me, this judgment signifies more than just legal vindication; it symbolises a beacon of hope for all those who have endured similar injustices.
[The victory] reaffirms the principle that no one should be subjected to the whims of political maneuvering at the expense of their livelihoods and dignity
It reaffirms the principle that no one should be subjected to the whims of political manoeuvring at the expense of their livelihoods and dignity.
As we prepare to return to our roles within the City of Johannesburg, I am filled with a sense of cautious optimism. The road ahead may be filled with challenges, but we stand united, armed with a renewed sense of purpose and resilience. Our legacy of dedication to public service remains unwavering, despite the trials we have faced.
Yet even as we celebrate this hard-won victory, we cannot ignore the scars that remain: the homes lost, the lives upended, the dreams deferred. Justice, though served, cannot fully erase the pain of our past or the hardships endured.
Moving forward, it is my sincere hope that our ordeal serves as a stark reminder to incumbent governments: that the pursuit of political agendas should never come at the expense of the lives and wellbeing of those they serve.
Let this judgment be a clarion call for a more compassionate and principled approach to governance, one that prioritises the welfare of its citizens above all else.
As I reflect on the tumultuous journey that has led us to this moment, I am reminded of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of collective action. We could not have done this without the South African Municipal Workers’ Union. Together we have weathered the storm, emerging stronger and more determined than ever before.
In the end, our victory may be bittersweet but it is a victory nonetheless — a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to be silenced in the face of injustice. And for that, we will continue to fight, to strive, and to uphold the principles of justice and dignity for all.
Poppy Louw is a former TimesLIVE journalist
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