Around 100 protesters converged on the municipal office on Biggar Street, Glencoe, today to protest what they said is the unfairness over the municipality’s hiring of staff.  In a memorandum presented to acting municipal manager, MZ Silinga, it was stated that ‘only friends and family are given jobs’.

The memorandum also highlights the policy of keeping workers employed on a ‘temporary basis’ without making them permanent employees.  Other issues included the ’50/50 policy when purchasing pre-paid electricity which the municipality deducts from those residents who are in arrears with other service charges’.

Other issues included:  the need for a ‘transparent plan to fight unemployment in Ward 3’, the need to control those who are sub-contracted by suppliers to the municipality.

“We are also tired of having to travel to Dundee to make arrangements for a burial – there should be a local office here in Glencoe/Sithembile for that.”

Like what has happened in Dundee, the marchers also alleged that the allocation of new RDP houses, which have been built in the Glencoe area, was also ‘crooked’

Again, it was said that people who do not qualify in terms of Government legislation

have received homes.  Speaker Mdluli was sent to address the crowd but he has forced to stand down when the marchers shouted him down as he alighted from his vehicle.

Acting municipal manager, MZ Silinga, promised that he would forward their grievances to the ‘relevant people in the municipality’.  Police were at the scene and fears are that the community anger may escalate once the sun sets.