Samwu workers back at work for now
Meanwhile opposition parties at GTM are pleased with the president’s decision to investigate GTM.
BURGERSFORT – The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) members at the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) claim the municipality is continuing to threaten and intimidate the workers not to reveal the alleged shenanigans in the municipality.
The workers returned to their normal duties on Friday August 1, after they had shunned work for four days.
According to Samwu chairman in Tubatse Mr Nelson Mokgotho, they had organised an appointment with the municipal directors, the acting municipal manager Ms Adelaide Monyepao and the mayor Mr Ralepane Mamekoa on August 4 to discuss the workers’ grievances, but only one director pitched. The acting MM and the mayor were reported to be at a meeting in Pretoria.
Mokgotho said the union couldn’t discuss the workers’ grievances with only one director and without Monyepao.
“We want the municipality‘s response before August 8. If by Friday we don’t have any response, we will take industrial action against GTM.”
Mokgotho alleged Monyepao had suspended him as the chairman in order to dictate matters at the municipality.
Last week the union had raised grievances with the GTM. The workers want Monyepao to be sacked as the acting MM and to be arrested. They also wanted the municipality to stop outsourcing some of its services as that promoted corruption.
Other allegations were that the GTM paid a company R700 000 to record one session of a disciplinary hearing. The municipality allegedly paid the same amount to a service provider who put globes in the boardroom.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted the Hawks spokesman Mr Paul Ramoloko, who confirmed that the municipality was being investigated by the police unit. The president Mr Jacob Zuma also ordered the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the municipality on allegations of corruption and maladministration.
Meanwhile opposition parties at GTM are pleased with the president’s decision to investigate GTM. Mr Lethabile Kgwedi of the DA, and Mr Aubrey Ngwatle of PAC, said it was a good decision from the president but it was taken late as so much damage had been done. They alleged that there are a lot of criminal activities taking place within the municipality.
At the time of going to print, Steelburger/Lydenburg News had not received comment from GTM spokesman Mr Thabiso Mokoena.
