Posted by SAVE the Vaal Environment – 12/06/2019
For the countless time in a period of a year, on Monday, 10th June 2019, workers of Emfuleni Local Municipality in Vanderbijlpark, abandoned their work stations in a protest over unsafe working conditions.
The OK Building is located in the Vanderbijlpark CBD on CR Swart Street and houses key municipal departments including Revenue Customer Service Center. Workers based at this building have for months been exposed to an unbearable stench emanating from constant sewer spillages in the basement of the building.
It s believed the spillages have also negatively affected the structural integrity of the building, rendering it unsafe for habitation. The spillages have also compromised the building’s air quality, meaning there’s a possible presence of active bio hazards.
For months, employees have fallen ill, missed work and have been booked off sick by doctors following prolonged exposure to the spillages and accompanying odor, which floods all floors of the building.
Despite numerous reports and complaints to management about this hazardous environment, nothing has been done to remedy the situation, and it is reported that the municipality continues to pay a monthly R2 million rental fee.
The financially crippled municipality is not only losing millions in a corrupt lease agreement, but sadly, one of its biggest and most important revenue stream has been affected by these work stoppages due to sewer spillages. This is because the Revenue Customer Service Center housed at the building is now closed and this is where rates and taxes are paid daily. Workers from this Department have also downed tools, fearing for their lives.
THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPALITY, COUNCILLOR GIFT MOERANE IS SCHEDULED TO ADDRESS AFFECTED WORKERS IN A MEETING SCHEDULED TODAY THE 11TH JUNE 2019, TO BE HELD AT MAYOR’S PARLOUR, MAIN BUILDING.
Important Questions for the Mayor and his MMCs:
* Who is the landlord in this controversial lease?
* According to the lease, who is responsible for the maintenance of the building?
* How much is the municipality paying in rent every month?
* Why isn’t the municipality considering terminating the lease?
* Are there politicians and/or municipal officials pocketing a share of the rental fee?
* How much is the municipality losing in revenue due to the closure of its Revenue and Customer Service Center?
* What has the Municipal Manager done to resolve this impasse?
Regards
Employees
Emfuleni Local Municipality
(Via ERPA )
(Photo via City Press who reported on the worst performing municipality in Gauteng on the 2019-04-12)
