Ekurhuleni workers demand their jobs back in a protest

A group of Ekurhuleni meter readers and data controllers picketed outside the mayor’s office in Germiston on September 26.

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According to the group, the protest was to demand answers from the Ekurhuleni Mayor, Tania Campbell, regarding losing their jobs to tender processes.

The meter readers claim to have indirectly been employed by the city through contractors for over 15 years and demand the abolishment of meter reading sub-contractors.

“Every three years, our contracts end and we have to run around looking for the next person who has won the tender.

“Some of us have been working for the city for over 15 years. Now we are told we have to reapply for our jobs under the new ICT programme.

“We don’t understand why we have to reapply when we are already within their system,” said the leader of the meter readers and data controllers, Nolan van Belling.

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The group sent a letter to the mayor on April 1 and a memorandum of grievances on September 26.

“We got no reply and applied for section 205 for a peaceful strike, however, our application was not approved.

“On many occasions, we have visited the Department of Corporate and Shared Services and the Department of Finance and Economic Development. We are always moved from pillar to post while our children go hungry and other people are taking our jobs,” said Nthabiseng Mokoatlo.

The protestors told GCN that new employees are being brought into the system through councillors, while their experience is being taken for granted.

“We have been ill-treated by the city for they have not taken into consideration the depth of our concerns while over 200 experienced people remain jobless.

“After being unemployed for over three months now, the city failed to allow us a section 205. We are here to demand answers.”

Among their grievances listed in the letter to the mayor were awarding meter readers and data controllers permanent posts in the metro, as well as doing a follow-up on current companies in possession of their contracts.

“We even submitted our CVs again with the hopes of retaining our jobs because at this stage of our economy we cannot afford to lose our jobs.

“We are demanding the absorption of every meter reader and data controller with at least one year of experience,” said van Belling.

Phakamile Mbengashe from the metro’s communications and the mayor’s political advisor Shadow Shabangu were present to receive the memorandum.

Shabangu apologised to the group for having their matter go on for so long and promised to get back to them within seven working days.

The leaders, together with the city, will meet again on October 5.

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In response to the inquiry, mayoral spokesperson Warren Gwilt confirmed the meter readers were employed through a third party.

He said the MMC for Finance, Fanyana Nkosi, met with the meter readers and explained that this was an internal HR process and as such, they were encouraged to apply through the system.

“One of the meter readers who were present at this meeting was subsequently employed through this system,” said Gwilt.

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