According to the South African Municipal Workers Union's (SAMWU) local official, Tshepo Phetoe, workers have engaged in a protest following a letter issued by the municipal manager (MM) to rescind the appointment of workers who were appointed in 2021. Phetoe says the union and workers have difficulty in understanding what led to the decision by the municipal manager. Phetoe says this decision is not rational.

The municipality is yet to respond.

Phetoe tells OFM News that they want the MEC for Cooperative Governance (Cogta), Lenah Miga, to come and address the situation. He says the letter sent to employees says the appointments of those who were hired after the tenure of former Mayor Daniel Buthelezi, will be rescinded, suggesting that their appointments were irregular.

“The municipality had a problem with delivering services to the people because it lacked capacity and then the people were hired because the municipality needed to reinforce the capacity to deliver services to the people of Ditsobotla. But I don’t think if this goes on, the municipality will manage to increase the level of service delivery. So we are of the view that the decision by the manager is irrational,” Phetoe adds.

OFM News