MBOMBELA – Community services employees felt the consequences of recent protest action when they were suspended by the acting municipal manager Mr Sello Ditshego last week. A suspension of three months was handed down to 35 employees for alleged misconduct related to two protests in October.
Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesman for Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) confirmed that 21 firefighters and 14 traffic officers were suspended pending an investigation into the allegations. They told Lowvelder the suspensions left only three firefighters on active duty in MLM. Ngala could not confirm the exact number but said they were engaging with stakeholders like Working on Fire and the provincial department of safety to fill any gaps. He said MLM had to act against the “anacrhy and ill discipline” of the employees.
The suspensions follow two separate protest actions dubbed “illegal strikes”, by firefighters, traffic officers, security and disaster-management employees. They were unhappy with a lack of overtime pay as well as the process of appointing certain specialised security officers. During the first protest employees blocked the entrance to the civic centre.
Three weeks later Ditshego was confronted by a larger group outside his office and the police had to intervene before he addressed staff. Insults allegedly hurled at management during this meeting were listed as an additional reason for the suspensions. Lowvelder asertained that among those off duty was Mr Tokozisi Mhlongo, shop steward of the South African Municipal Workers Union. A letter of intention to suspend him had contributed to the second protest.
The suspension letters also stated that they had an opportunity to make representation to MLM on why they should not temporarily be relieved of their duties. They told the paper they had not received these letters of intent because they were delivered by email, something to which they didn’t have access.
While they will receive their full remuneration, they will not be able to work overtime and earn extra money. “I just want to go back to work,” one frustrated employee said.
• In the meantime, Mr Cyril Chuene of the EFF in Mpumalanga has approached the office of the Public Protector to investigate the appointment of the specialised security officers in MLM.
