Municipal workers’ suspensions lifted
SAMWU's provincial organiser Menzi Luthuli said was no evidence by the municipality to show that the five workers were instigators of a protest.
Five Ray Nkonyeni Municipality workers who were suspended in January have been reinstated.
These workers (including managers) were instructed by the bargaining council, the South African Local Government Association, to head back to work on July 17.
South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) provincial organiser, Menzi Luthuli, confirmed the suspensions were lifted at a meeting at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre on July 16.
In January, communications manager Simon April, supply chain manager Nkazimulo Mavundla, Bongani Gcaba, Nurse Mkhungo and Musa Mzelemu were allegedly accused of being instigators at a workers’ protest, from November 2024 to February.
After serving three months of their suspension which was meant to end in April, their suspensions were extended for another three months which ended on July 16.
According to Luthuli, there was no evidence brought forward by the municipality (being the accounting officer or municipal manager) to show that these five workers were instigators.
“It came as a surprise to us that they were said to be instigators because the protest was led by the leadership of the union. Till this day there has been no report or investigation. There has also never been a disciplinary hearing.”
Also, Luthuli said when the workers appeared before the bargaining council a few weeks ago, the municipal manager, Khetha Zulu, was unable to answer questions by the commissioner and could not produce evidence.
“We are happy that the workers are back at work. We are looking at what action we can take because these were unfair suspensions.”
Zulu was contacted for comment, but none was received at the time of going to press.
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