According to the Provincial Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), Vincent Diphoko, the union had to intervene to ensure workers received their salaries.

Diphoko also claimed the municipality has been deducting pension and medical aid payments, but failed to pay such deductions over to the intended recipients.

This has allegedly led to an amount of over R49 million being owed to third parties.

Municipal spokesperson, Pius Batsile, tells OFM News salaries for February were paid on Friday 3 March.

Batsile added the municipality had been experiencing cash-flow challenges, but the district municipality came to their rescue and paid salaries to workers.

The Ditsobotla Municipality has reportedly launched an extensive revenue collection programme to ensure that third parties get paid what is owed to them.

Batsile said they were unable to bill customers as a result of financial system challenges, but these have been addressed and they have started to collect revenue.  

OFM News