THE South Coast South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) has threatened to go to ‘war’ with Ugu if its grievances are not addressed. The union has also demanded the removal of municipal manager ‘DD’ Naidoo.
Hundreds of angry Ugu workers marched to the municipality last Thursday to hand over a memorandum with their grievances, claiming that Mr Naidoo has failed the municipality.
Under the leadership of South Coast SAMWU chairman Francz Zama, they chanted that they had been let down by Ugu management. “We have noted the lack of leadership and corruption in the administration of the Ugu District Municipality,” said Mr Zama.
He also accused Mr Naidoo of lending municipal services to private companies while disregarding municipal policies.
“We are unhappy with shifting of staff without following proper procedures, the municipal manager cannot move employees to other department without following HR procedures,” said Mr Zama.
He also claimed that workers were working under unsafe conditions whereby the water treatment and sewerage plants have become dumping sites. He demanded that the municipality address this as soon as possible.
He added that the union was ready to go to war with the municipality if management did not address their grievances tomorrow, Friday.
In response, Mr Naidoo admitted that things were not going smoothly at the municipality, but said he was not to blame. “Ugu municipality was already in trouble when I took over. I cannot fix things overnight,” he said.
He said he could not answer the grievances immediately and requested the union grant him seven working days to respond.
Angry workers threatened that if Ugu management did not get back to them in seven days they were ready for a bigger strike.
