OFM News earlier reported a media briefing at the headquarters of the Mangaung metro on Wednesday (25/2) to address ongoing water and electricity challenges in Bloemfontein was disrupted. Scores of employees from the waste department expressed frustration over delayed overtime payments.

A letter from municipal manager Sello More was circulated on Tuesday (24/2), informing employees overtime would only be processed and issued next Wednesday (4/3). The communication triggered anger among workers, who subsequently entered the building and went straight to the floor where Mayor Gregory Nthatisi was scheduled to address the media.

As tensions escalated, Nthatisi was escorted back to his office by security personnel with workers chanting and demanding their money. He emerged shortly thereafter to address the aggrieved workers directly before proceeding with the delayed media briefing.

In his opening remarks at the briefing, Nthatisi apologised for the disruption. “Indeed, we would like to apologise for the normal happenings of any municipality when there are some misunderstandings with regard to  administration and workers.

“What you have heard are beautiful songs, some met with insults here and there, driven by anger, as necessarily those workers have the right to always stand for their rights, particularly when there are some misunderstandings.”

“I’m sure by now you know that a case in hand is being addressed by the city manager and other HODs, and it is all about nonpayment of some services that were provided. However, there will be consequences for those officials who did not do what they were supposed to do,” he said.

The metro, which has been grappling with financial and service delivery challenges, reportedly spent R470m on overtime payments over the past two years. Nthatisi previously indicated that the municipality would implement a shift system to rein in what has been described as a bloated overtime bill.

As part of measures to address the anomaly, the metro announced plans to embark on a recruitment drive to fill a high vacancy rate, particularly at lower levels, to reduce reliance on overtime payments. Last year, the municipality announced plans to fill more than 400 vacant posts, mainly at the general worker level.

However, the proposed shift system has faced criticism from the municipal workers’ union Samwu in the Free State. The union has labelled the plan an ill-conceived move that ignores the metro’s longstanding staffing crisis and deeper systemic failures.

Nthatisi made it clear while workers have the right to voice their concerns, officials who fail to carry out their responsibilities will be held accountable as the metro attempts to stabilise its operations and restore service delivery.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm