The South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) in Gauteng has lamented the political instability in Gauteng’s three metros, saying it has compromised the working environment for its members, weakened labour relations and created more space for corruption.
Speaking to TimesLIVE Premium after a media briefing held by the union, provincial secretary Mpho Tladinyane said since the start of coalition governments, councils in the province have not performed their functions effectively.
Tladinyane said some workers lost their jobs as new political leadership came into the picture.
“In Johannesburg, 130 workers were dismissed when a new mayor [Mpho Phalatse] came in. In Tshwane, 19 employees were dismissed for similar reasons. Where there is political instability, there is corruption. Senior officials take advantage of the instability and flout procurement rules,” Tladinyane said.
“We have also seen non-functioning of local labour forums where we are supposed to finalise collective agreements, discuss overtime and other labour issues. Those forums are not functional because they remove a mayor today, when the other one comes he brings a new team and you start negotiating from scratch.”
We have members who are working as personal assistants. When these changes happen, they find themselves not knowing who they report to
— Mpho Tladinyane, Samwu provincial secretary
Tladinyane said replacements in key senior positions, such as chief of police and chief of emergency services, get delayed as the new political leadership have an interest as to who should occupy these posts.
“In some cases there are frivolous suspensions of workers when political changes happen. Even in these political offices we have members who are working as personal assistants. When these changes happen, they find themselves not knowing who they report to,” Tladinyane said.
Samwu also made serous allegations against the human settlements department of the City of Johannesburg, accusing it of flouting supply chain legislation.
Since the beginning of the year, all the three metros have changed political leadership as motions of no confidence were put to mayors and speakers causing political instability.
The Samwu briefing came just a day after Dr Murunwa Makwarela appeared in court for fraud after he allegedly faked rehabilitation certificates to remain City of Tshwane mayor.
Makwarela was elected on February 28, but it later emerged he had been declared insolvent, which disqualified him from being mayor. However, he suddenly produced a certificate suggesting that he had sorted out his finances but the registrar of court announced that it had not issued such a document.
Makwarela ultimately resigned and Cilliers Brink of the DA was elected for the position. The drama in Tshwane council has been taking place while council has to pass its adjustment budget.
In October, Johannesburg council also had its own drama which saw then mayor Mpho Phalatse reinstated by the high court after she was removed through a motion of no confidence. The no-confidence motion was tabled again in January and Thapelo Amad of the Al Jama-ah became the new mayor.
Last week, Ekurhuleni’s DA mayor Tania Campbell was removed through a motion of no confidence. AIC councillor Sivuyile Ngodwana was elected new mayor.
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