Alex DA volunteers accuse the party of alleged non-payment

A Democratic Alliance party member in Alex has approached the Legal Aid Board for help on alleged non-payment by the party.

Clive Modungwa’s claim stems from 2016 when he said he and about 350 volunteers were not paid for work done campaigning for the party in the run-up to the municipal election which enabled it to win mayorship of the City of Joburg through a coalition government. Irked Modungwa claimed the party reneged on the agreement. “I recruited the volunteers, who are mostly poor, as asked and they still haven’t been paid at a daily rate of R150 from a fund that had been set aside for the work,” he said.

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Modungwa said the matter was also reported to the police and court without resolution. Local senior members also know about it and apparently showed no sympathy to the claim. “They have refused to meet with us to resolve the matter in the interest of the unemployed and struggling volunteers, hence the letter to the Legal Aid Board for intervention. If it fails again with the Legal Aid Board, I fear the option which the volunteers may resort to in order to get justice.”

This said in reference to the letter addressed to the City manager on behalf of the Mayor Herman Mashaba and which asks about the claim for an unspecified number of days for community work under a Sisonke Project.

Modungwa also said his persistent claim for payment almost got him killed allegedly by a local party member. “He dragged me from home at gunpoint, assaulted and tore my clothes in the presence of neighbours and my elderly mother who was insulted when she tried to intervene, leaving her traumatised.

“I hope the mayor and senior provincial members, keen to see the party’s credibility and membership grow and consolidate, will want to resolve this matter prior towards the 2019 elections.”

He referred Alex News to PR councillor Strike Rambani who confirmed knowledge of the matter through an ANC councillor. Rambani said he wasn’t involved in the matter and wasn’t responsible for the Alex area.

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Mayor Mashaba said the matter wasn’t at his level and urged the aggrieved members to approach either the City or party’s legal departments. The party’s member of the provincial legislature, Mervyn Cirota said the matter was a rehashed, old and resolved allegation. “Why complain now about a 2016 matter which was resolved? The member failed to present proof and if with any now, he should present it.”

Cirota added that at one point the complainant and others disturbed a council meeting on the matter.

Economic Freedom Front councillor Moshe Mphahlele said his party raised the matter in councilon behalf of the complainant without conclusion. “We will continue to raise it until it’s resolved in the interest of the poor volunteers.”