Congratulations ANC but …

SAMWU reminds the municipality of its position.

Prince Molete, Kgosetsile Breedt and Tshepo Ramajoe from Samwu after conveying their congratulations to the last mayor of Randfontein in 2015.

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) has congratulated the ANC on winning the new town but states that it is still unhappy about issues held over from the past.

The congratulations come after the ANC was elected as the first majority party to serve the residents of the newly formed Rand West City Local Municipality.

“The 2016 local government elections has generally not favoured the ANC,” said Kgosi Breedt, Rand West SAMWU secretariat.

He added that Randfontein and Westonaria clearly indicated, with how they voted and in the Quality of Life Survey, that they placed their trust in the ANC once again. Breedt, on behalf of SAMWU, also stated the Union’s satisfaction with the decision made by the regional ANC to elect Mzi Khumalo as executive mayor of the town.

SAMWU conveying its congratulations to the ANC seems to be a matter of formality, as with the congratulations comes a list of grievances regarding management in the municipality.

Regarding management of Rand West, Breedt referred to Cyril Ramaphosa, the Deputy President, who indicated the ANC will have to do a self-introspection after the 2016 local government election results are settled.

“SAMWU has five matters against the municipality that are currently at the Bargaining Council. These matters relate to unfair labour practice and unfair suspension by an unremorseful and unapologetic management,” Breedt said.

Three of the five matters include action that must be taken against senior and executive managers who failed to meet 50 per cent of their key performance indicators. Breedt said SAMWU has also on numerous occasions raised its objection to the abnormally high salaries and “their tendencies of oppressing [the] ordinary worker.”

In addition, SAMWU wants the Supply Chain Management Policy to be vigorously implemented. According to the union, this should prevent municipal officials and their close family members from doing business with the municipality. Lastly, employee morale and fatalism are to be addressed by the municipality in low-level municipal positions.

“SAMWU has been and continues to be a proponent of ethical and transparent government especially in our overall sector – local government of South Africa,” Breedt said.

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