The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the North West has vowed to support its affiliate, the South African municipal workers union (SAMWU) in its quest to resolve the ongoing squabbles at the Madibeng Local Municipality Council.
The trade federation comments follow recent media reports that the municipality has allegedly appointed multiple service providers to provide the same services at the Brits-based municipality.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, COSATU’s Provincial Secretary Kabelo Kgoro said that SAMWU leadership at the municipality is working on establishing the facts around these reports.
According to Kgoso, similar reports were made before by its affiliate, SAMWU.
“We haven’t yet established the names of the so-called multiple service providers who are appointed to provide similar services at the municipality, hence our statement said that we as COSATU are concerned that this report emerges at the time when we are calling for the fixing of our municipalities in the province.
We have also resolved that we cannot sit back and watch as individual actions paralyse and financially collapse our municipalities which are institutions that are meant to provide basic services to our communities including electricity and water,” said Kgoro.
Kgoro has also emphasised that the federation will not be dragged into the alleged political infightings in the ANC caucus at the municipality.
“We note all the allegations in the media against the municipality, particularly those against the sitting Mayor, Douglas Maimane.
What we are not going to allow is for us to be used in the internal differences of the councillors, that we will accept.
These allegations surface while municipal workers do not have the necessary essential tools of trade, and the municipality is confronted with operational and employee welfare challenges which have led to a low morale among the workforce,” remarked Kgoro.
COSATU has in the meanwhile called on its alliance partner and leader, the ANC in the province to leave no stone unturned and ensure that necessary organisational and legal processes unfold in that municipality, as the efforts to fix local government continues.
“As COSATU we will work with and support SAMWU, in ensuring that workers do not become the victims of processes that are alleged to have benefitted certain individuals,” reiterated Kgoro.
Furthermore, Kgoro said their concerns is not only limited to Madibeng, as they have observed similar incidents in Matlosana.
“Our statement is not only based on Madibeng, because if you can remember we released another statement regarding the situation at the City of Matlosana in Klerksdorp where there’s been an instability due to the Chief Financial Officer who has been found wanting, and dismissed.
We are saying municipal workers in general and SAMWU members in particular bear the brunt of immoral and inhumane activities by self-centred individuals who have no regard for ethical and moral leadership,” remarked Kgoro.
COSATU said that it will keenly monitor developments in Madibeng to ensure that indeed local government is being fixed.
