WATCH: Metro begins recruitment process of filling positions of recently-dismissed employees
Hiring of municipal employees has been started to deal with the current poor staffing situation at the metro after the strike which could impact service delivery, however, certain political parties are set against this.
Tshwane is on a drive to fill the positions of its recently-dismissed employees.
This follows a notice issued by the city manager’s office on Tuesday, October 3 requesting the group head for regional operations and coordination, Cali Phanyane to move forward with filling the positions where employees had been dismissed due to illegal strike action.
Tshwane had dismissed employees during the destruction and violence hovering over the metro for over seven weeks.
City manager Johan Mettler said the process of filling vacant positions was still at an advent phase and they were looking to fill close to 150 positions, however, some political parties were against the decision.
“I have given the go-ahead for recruitment to start,” he said.
Mettler said the process was urgently initiated to respond to the dire need to kickstart service delivery operations, so it wouldn’t be compromised by lack of human capacity.
“We must fill these positions, as during the strike we witnessed that the management of staff was a problem due to the number of vacancies.
“There are two levels that need to be filled. Those of middle-managerial levels which have been vacant for some time and general workers such as artisans.”
Mettler said management of staff was a chaotic process as there were simply no managers to ensure the execution of duties, while several artisans had been dismissed in the recent two-month-long protest.
He said other positions to be filled were those of electricians and plumbers as well as other skills to service the electricity, water, and waste departments which were devoid of key employees.
Mettler said there were also employees contesting their dismissals and the city would not employ to replace those in such predicaments to ensure the fair filling of posts.
He said the court processes initiated would deal with the matters around the dismissals as prescribed in the Labour Relations Act.
The Johannesburg Labour Court granted Tshwane a permanent interdict against its striking employees on September 15.
The strike action clouded Tshwane for weeks, as worker unions Imatu and Samwu fought with the Tshwane metro over annual salary increases.
In July, Tshwane employees became furious when they saw their payslips did not factor in the 5.4% salary and wage increase they were supposed to receive, leading to violence erupting and a march on July 26.
The metro claimed the increases would cost it R600-million and it could not afford it.
Transformation Alliance (TTA) Party leader Abel Tau said Tshwane’s decision to replace dismissed workers was provocative.
Tau said the metro’s decision to fill vacancies left by dismissed “striking” workers was ill-advised.
“TTA calls on Tshwane to reconsider this unfortunate move that might plunge the City further into chaos.”
He said some workers were still appealing the Tshwane’s decision to fire them.
“Any move to replace the dismissed workers would be illegal.
“Clearly, residents of the city are not a priority. The mayor and city manager are now on an ego trip that will not end well. We wish to reiterate our call for the provincial government to intervene, for the sake of residents and service delivery.”
EFF chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu also criticised ActionSA for abandoning its motion aimed at addressing the grievances of labour workers.
“The EFF firmly believes in supporting any intervention that prioritises the interests of workers.
“Our party recognises that workers are the backbone of our society and deserve fair treatment, decent wages, and safe working conditions. It is against this backdrop that we express our disappointment with ActionSA’s opportunistic behaviour.”
He said ActionSA tabled a motion purportedly aiming at compelling the mayor and the city manager to engage with labour workers promptly.
“The EFF was prepared to support this motion, as it aligned with our commitment to advancing workers’ rights. We made it clear that any political party’s intervention that genuinely prioritises workers’ interests would receive our support.”
Ramabodu said the EFF in Tshwane remained resolute in advocating for workers’ rights and welfare.
“Workers should not be used as pawns in political games or subjected to opportunistic tactics. Our party will continue to champion the cause of workers, ensuring their voices are heard, grievances are addressed, and rights protected.”
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