South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) members during a march. Picture: Gallo Images
The Free State department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) has confirmed the Kopanong Local Municipality has asked for financial assistance to get an urgent court interdict to force municipal workers back to work.
The workers downed tools in late February.
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) members have been absent from work over alleged historical third-party debts of millions of rands, among other reasons.
Cogta provincial head Mokete Duma said the department has not yet decided whether to assist or not, as it was still engaging with Samwu.
Duma said once that was concluded the department would announce its course of action in relation to an application for a court interdict.
OFM News previously reported that Cogta MEC Oupa Khoabane has instituted a Section 106 investigation into the municipality, under the Municipal Finance Management Act, to monitor if the municipality can manage its own affairs.
This was after the municipal council earlier placed municipal manager Martin Kubeka on special leave pending the council’s own probe into maladministration allegations against him.
– OFM News
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