No tea offered to say goodbye

POLOKWANE – The former mayor of Polokwane, Freddy Greaver, said the recognition received last Monday from an organisation where the relationship previously was not a “bed of roses”, was a big surprise; he found it exciting and was proud to receive an accolade from the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu).

Samwu presented a token of appreciation to Greaver in recognition of the high calibre leadership that he displayed during his tenure as mayor.

The gala dinner took place at the Polokwane Royal Hotel following the union’s extended provincial committee meeting last Monday.

“He has done a lot to improve the relationship between the municipality and the union,” Simon Mathe, the union’s provincial secretary, told Review. He further said the recognition was perhaps the first of its kind and “some people out there” may not like it, “but we have to be upfront and say we are going to bite the bullet for this one.”

Mathe said when Greaver was presiding as mayor, he (Greaver) found it necessary to engage the union on pertinent matters that affected the municipality’s workforce. “We know that anyone who had the opportunity to interact with him would know that they were interacting with a leader who had a clear vision.”

He said Samwu was pleased with the level of communication and engagement Greaver offered to the union leadership and that he had made sure they were personally informed about major decisions taken, and not by other sources.

Greaver said there had been a lot of mistrust and problems initially, but it was not only him that was responsible for the improved relations. “As a municipality one works as a collective,” he said.

“This is most humbling, and as I never expected it I decided to drive all the way to Polokwane and back to accept it. This is the first acknowledgement I received since leaving Polokwane.

“Samwu, that was perceived to be my foe, is the one that deems it necessary to give me this recognition. The relationship with Samwu was very robust and challenging and kept me on my toes. I do not think the decision was an easy one for them to take, but I thank Samwu for the recognition of someone who has never been acknowledged by those who were working closely to me.

“I did not even get a ‘thank you’ or a cup of tea to drink as a goodbye.”