After almost three weeks, Ngwathe’s manager of budget and expenditure, Mr Themba Mpindo, is still not in his office.

On 3 January, a member of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EWP) allegedly assaulted him while he was trying to enter the municipal building.

The accused received a R500 fine and must appear in court on 5 February should he fail to pay it.

Since the incident, Mpindo claims he has not had any explanation as to why he could not enter; neither has he received answers to the way forward, despite numerous attempts to speak to Ngwathe’s senior management.

In a statement this week, ANC Veterans League chairperson of the Greater Parys branch, Mr Jonas Ramokhoase, condemned the actions of the temporary employee, who, according to Mpindo, claimed to have acted on instruction from the Ngwathe executive mayor.

The incident happened in front of a municipal security official on municipal premises.
Ramokhoase applauded Mr Mpindo for reporting the matter to the South African Police Service, adding that employees must be protected from any risks that might endanger their lives. He said the municipality had failed Mr Mpindo.

Ramokhoase referred to ethical regulations at the workplace, mentioning, among others, a confrontation in 2023 among two subordinates in Ngwathe’s Technical Department during working hours. The incident was recorded and shared on social media. Ramokhoase said there was no action or report regarding consequence management against all perpetrators, ignoring labour relationship agreements between employer and employee.

After the assault, Mpindo told the Gazette he has had it with unions that want to run the municipality as they wish, and nothing gets done. He says he was repeatedly denied entrance to the municipal building since the incident of 3 January.

Mpindo had to return to work after the festive season on 8 January. His decision to go to the office earlier was to prepare for the mid-term, quarterly and monthly financial reports.