An ordinary Council meeting on Thursday, June 25, continued as usual while a large group of municipal workers stood in front of the Germiston Civic Centre to protest the conditions of their employment and perceived lack of delivery on promises made by the City.
The RECORD spoke to Colin Mavimbela, a representative of the Lungile Mtshali brigade who said the group was promised training and the opportunity to apply for permanent positions once their contracts came to an end.
The workers were reportedly initially required to do door-to-door visits in areas like Tembisa and Daveyton; find gaps in service delivery, and report those gaps to the local Customer Care Centre.
After one month they were asked to assist with picking up litter; breaking up illegal dumps and cleaning cemeteries. This was reportedly not the work described in their employment contracts.
The training that was reportedly offered to the brigade was a two-day training course that culminated with trainees receiving a certificate that left them unsatisfied. Colin stated that no other organisation would recognise the certificate and thus it is useless to workers seeking employment with other companies.
Inside the Council meeting, DA councillor Nkosinathi Madonsela addressed the protest; citing it as an example of how service delivery has been politicised. Clr Madonsela stated, “The Lungile Mtshali brigade was being prepared to sweep streets and dig trenches.”
