MBOMBELA – The acting municipal manager (MM) Mr Sello Ditshego locked himself in an office at the civic centre on Monday, hiding for hours from disgruntled community-services employees. He did not address them until after police had arrived.
The employees had staged a protest three weeks ago, blocking the entrances to the centre in objection to what they called maladministration in appointments at Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM), outstanding overtime pay for firefighters and Mr Eddie Prolius, the traffic head, still occupying his position.
On Monday they had an added grievance: Mr Tokozisi Mhlongo had received a letter from the MM on Friday, stating his intention to suspend the shop steward of the South African Municipal Workers Union.
“What has he done wrong except to raise the workers’ issues?” one protester asked. Another said the problem was not at all about any union, but about their unhappiness with management. “And when he speaks out about it this happens.”
The workers comprising traffic, the fire brigade, security and disaster management, numbered about 30 people, gave Mhlongo until 09:00 on Monday to respond to why he should not be suspended.
So the employees came to the MM’s office to discuss their issues with Ditshego, saying he had not met with them as per his undertaking after their previous protest. The staff stood in the hallway outside the locked door to the budget and treasury office for more than two hours. Ditshego remained behind closed doors along with Mr Noko Seanego, corporate-services manager, and some other officials until police arrived. Lowvelder found the protesters although relaxed, rather unhappy, but not aggressive.
A paramedic arrived later as one of the officials in the office had apparently fainted. SAPS escorted the protesters to a hall on the bottom floor. One woman, referring to the police, sarcastically remarked to Lowvelder, “Look, we have new employers now. How can they send police to speak to us and not come themselves? It is not fair.”
The media was not allowed to attend the meeting at which Ditshego and Seanego eventually arrived – escorted by police.
The employees, however, did not emerge happy, saying none of their grievances had been addressed. It was agreed that they would submit all their grievances in writing to Ditsehgo so he could respond accordingly.
