DA calls for probe into unmatriculated workforce
"It is clear that due processes were not followed during their appointments and therefore their positions and appointments must be investigated to ensure that there is transparency and accountability. Our party will file a formal complaint with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to probe the SDM," said Maile.
SEKHUKHUNE – More than 300 employees at the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) do not have grade 12 certificates.
The revelation was confirmed by the executive mayor, Stanley Ramaila, during an ordinary sitting of council recently held at Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality.
Ramaila said, “Out of 560 employees in the Department of Infrastructure and Water Services, 368 do not have matric.”
The DA’s Solomon Maile believes that many of these officials are simply drawn from ANC branches of the district, without having been requested their qualifications and experience before they are appointed.
“It is clear that due processes were not followed during their appointments and therefore their positions and appointments must be investigated to ensure that there is transparency and accountability. Our party will file a formal complaint with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to probe the SDM,” said Maile.
The mayor has emphatically indicated that only 192 out of 560 employees in this department, representing 34 per cent, have a grade 12 certificate.
“This means that 66 per cent of the employees in this important department, which is the heartbeat of the service delivery machinery of the municipality, do not have matric. To compound the matter, the municipality has only one engineer, who is not even registered on the Engineering Council of South Africa.
“This makes it impossible for the municipality to provide desperately needed infrastructure and water services to the people of Sekhukhune,” Maile explained.
He also urged the PSC to commence with their investigations and ensure that due processes are followed in order to accelerate service delivery to the people of Sekhukhune.
SDM spokesperson, Moloko Moloto, said the workers in question were general employees, such as pump operators, drivers and blue-collar workers involved in operations and maintenance of infrastructure.
“These are people who do manual and physical labour. Importantly, all these workers work under the guidance of qualified and competent project managers and sectional managers. There is no one at management level without matric. All our managers have post-matric qualifications. We did a skills audit in all departments to ensure people are in positions they are qualified for,” he concluded.
