Services suspended at Thaba Chweu Local Municipality
The South African Municipal Workers Union members are demanding the removal of the executive mayor and acting municipal manager.
Protests in front of the Lydenburg, Sabie and Graskop municipal offices have reached their fourth day.
Members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) are demanding the resignation or removal of Friddah Nkadimeng, executive mayor, and Herns Trower, acting municipal manager.
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The protest started on Monday June 26 with workers blocking the entrances to municipal buildings. Residents were alerted in a mass WhatsApp message that municipal services would be suspended until further notice.
“Earlier this month, the DA highlighted the irregular appointments of the acting director of community services and the acting director of planning and development. The contract of the acting municipal manager has been longer than three months, and a letter of consent by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) was not issued to TCLM to address these appointments. Section 56 (1) of the Municipal Systems Amendment Articles of Cogta was not followed in this regard. We are also calling for the removal of the acting municipal manager on the basis that he doesn’t have the municipal five-year experience required at middle management level,” said Spiros Couvara, a DA councillor.
Mpumalanga Cogta spokesperson Lindiwe Msibi and Samwu didn’t respond to questions by the time of posting.
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