Metro workers marched to the municipality’s headquarters on Thursday (18/12) to demand answers over persistent salary issues. National Treasury recently informed Mangaung of its intention to withhold the metro’s December equitable-share payment, citing continuous breaches of the Municipal Finance Management Act.

According to municipal workers’ union Samwu, employees have gone as long as six months without receiving overtime payments, while shift allowances have allegedly not been paid correctly. The situation has been compounded by claims that several traffic department employees were unlawfully suspended, resulting in salary deductions made without their consent.

'Workers have reached a breaking point'

Samwu regional chairperson in Mangaung, Andile Mooketsi, said workers have reached a breaking point.

“Their workers are here to say that enough is enough because their monies are being deducted (up to between) R5,000 and R8,000 for something that they don’t understand themselves.

“Obviously this thing was done by someone, somebody out there unilaterally took a decision that he is just going to punish our traffic officers. This is unlawful and we want justice for our members. We gave management a moment to go and caucus,” said Mooketsi.

City manager Sello More had previously confirmed he issued a directive to relevant departments to ensure workers were paid what was owed to them on Thursday (18/12). However, no payments have materialised. Instead, workers allege that the suspension of traffic officers has been further extended.

'Unlawful shift system introduced without proper process'

“Instead of the upliftment of the suspension of traffic officers, it has been extended with three more months because of this unlawful shift system that was being introduced by the employer without following the proper processes,” Mooketsi said.

The union had previously criticised the shift system introduced by the metro, describing it as ill-conceived and disconnected from the municipality’s deep-rooted operational challenges. The union argued that the system fails to take into account severe understaffing across critical service delivery units.

Departments affected by the salary disputes include solid waste management, water and sanitation, sewage, and traffic services. Mooketsi said the union had engaged metro officials last month and was assured the issues would be resolved. Samwu suspects internal divisions within metro management.

“We are of the view that the centre does not hold. The city manager would say one thing, but the heads of departments deliberately defy him,” Mooketsi said.

A request for comment has been sent inquiry has been sent to Mangaung metro.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi