DA: ‘Community being lied to by the people terrorising our town’

The press release is as follows:

It is important to put this whole situation and allegations in perspective. The community is being lied to and recruited to support the very people who are terrorising this town.

• It was alleged that the former Municipal Manager Bheki Khenisa, was corrupt and broke down relationships with the labour force, and yet again we hear the same song that the Acting Municipal manager Thoko Zulu is also corrupt as she appointed security and broke down relationship with the labour force.

Since the allegations against Bheki Khenisa became known, we as the Democratic Alliance requested proof continuously from the labour force without success. The DA did however write an open letter to Mr Khenisa requesting him to step down for what we thought would have brought peace and continuity of service delivery.

• The goal post got shifted once again to the benchmarking, in other words, more money. The labour force insisted on a benchmark with Nkomazi Municipality, their own choice.

But that proved that they got similar and in most cases even more money.

The outcome of the benchmark that proved unsatisfactory saw yet another strike demanding that a hundred percent of the managers and directors backpay be divided amongst the lower grade employees. This they got again through force.

As referred to in C15/05/2022 this was paid to the labour force in full. In between this chaos, it must be kept in mind that the labour force received an annual increase of 4.9% as agreed in bargaining council. Dated from 1 July.

Benchmarking and annual increases is an administrative process however benchmarking approved by council to try yet again to bring peace amongst the administration and labour force for service delivery to be rendered to the community.

• According to a media release to the community by the labour force, which stated that on 1 August, the labour force again downed tools due to item C15/05/2022 that served before council and that the resolution had not been met.

This statement is an outrageous lie, created to mislead the public, as previously mentioned the labour force have already received money allocated to the manager and directors under resolution C15/05/2022 as this item alludes to the benchmarking.

• Since 8 August, according to the striking workers’ press release, the labour force has been distributing pamphlets to community regarding security that was appointed by the ccting Municipal Manager. According the Sowetan article, the acting Municipal Manager has spent R3.6 million on bodyguards to protect her.

The Striking labour force claim that R3,6 million is paid to protect the acting Municipal Manager. The security is appointed to protect municipal property and officials and attending employees at large.

We have experienced instances where workers stormed into the Council Chamber and intimidated Councillors, officials, and members of the public. The Chamber of Commerce and local consultants can testify in this regard.

At a Council Forum meeting we were informed of the security dangers and the Councillors who were present took note of these dangers. At the meeting
in July, the deviation to procure the services of additional security was also tabled to Council.

No Councillor recorded any objection to the deviation as media releases by opportunistic political parties would like you, as the public to believe.

As the MPAC committee represented by all political parties, should there be any irregular expenditure, a report will be submitted to MPAC
committee for investigation and recommendation for council to deliberate. Till present moment no report has been received.

• A matter that has been explained at length to all stakeholders, item C05/07/2022 which served at a council meeting which pertains to the municipal grading implementation still remains an ongoing debate of grading from level 4 to 5, and yet another demand for more money.

The labour force is graded according to an agreement in the Local Government Bargaining Council, SALGABC. (This process is still underway and also includes job descriptions which have not been finalized.)

They are currently on grade 4 and will move to grade 5 when the process is concluded, but the striking labour force demand is that it be implemented immediately without the Bargaining Council process being concluded.

According to SALGABC the grading cannot proceed until the wage curve agreement has been completed and hence it is not the prerogative of council
to conclude the grading.

• Lastly, we have also taken note, that according to media releases by multiple members of the labour force, demanded that internal charges relating to disciplinary action be withdrawn.

The employer did call a meeting with Local Labour Forum (LLF), which consisted of registered unions SAMWU and IMATU, as well as the management.

Unrecognised delegates of the labour force wanted to attend, however, they are not recognised by the LLF, and the meeting could not take place.

We as the Democratic Alliance feel that the process of the lawful disciplinary actions that are underway should not be undermined as we are a constitutional republic.

Administration should follow all Human Resource processes to conclude the illegal actions and misconduct for the last time.