Over 170 vacancies frozen due to overtime abuse
In terms of the National Treasury Circular no.82, all municipalities must implement cost cutting measures, which include reduction of overtime
Ekurhuleni Metro has confirmed that the freezing of more than 170 vacancies due to overtime abuse will only last for five months.
This comes after the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) issued a statement to condemn the freezing of these vacancies, accusing them of “deliberately attempting to compromise service delivery to the citizens of the city”.
Mayor Mzwandile Masina announced that the posts would be frozen due to overtime abuse by metro employees. The metro insists that the cost-cutting measures will not compromise service delivery.
“In terms of the National Treasury Circular no. 82, all municipalities must implement cost-cutting measures, which include the reduction of overtime in a manner that will not compromise service delivery. It is for this reason that council took a decision to limit overtime to 40 hours a month,” metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe said.
He noted that this principle is in line with the Labour Relations Act, which stipulates that overtime should be limited to 40 hours.
However, SAMWU does not seem to agree that freezing posts will stop overtime claims from employees.
“We are of the view that cost-cutting measures should in no way compromise the quality of services to citizens, in particular the poor, who have no alternative but to rely on the provisions by the metro.
“To also suggest that the freezing of these posts will result in a reduction of overtime claims by employees is preposterous to say the least,” the union said in a statement.
“Current employees are already overstretched as a result of the metro’s refusal to fill these vacancies. There would be no need for workers to be required to work overtime if the metro had done the right thing and filled vacancies long ago. The municipality should therefore fill these vacancies and purchase equipment for workers in the interest of strengthening service delivery. Workers last received equipment in 2015, yet they are expected to strengthen service delivery,” SAMWU stated.
The metro added that the positions in question would only be frozen for five months, between February and June.
“The positions identified for freezing are those that were vacant. Positions that will become vacant after this decision will not be affected,” Gadebe explained.
“Furthermore, the department may begin with a recruitment process of the positions that are frozen with a condition that successful candidates will start in July.”
Gadebe said the freezing of vacant posts was part of a process to identify savings in order to address urgent municipal priorities.
“Announcing his 100-day programme last year, the mayor explained that the city would pay special attention to cost-cutting measures. In line with this, the city has already taken action with regards to overseas trips, fleet management and other costs,” Gadebe said.
The union called on the ANC to intervene urgently, lest it loses the metro, as happened with other municipalities in Gauteng following the local government elections last year.
