POLOKWANE – The 2000 workers of the Expanded Public Works Programme in the Polokwane Municipality, employed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), submitted memorandums of appeal (MOAs) both at the premier and municipal offices on Thursday regarding several labour issues.
They did so during a peaceful march, where many contributing faces seemed to be in their youth.
Pressing was a request for political leaders at both local and provincial levels to mediate on their behalf with DFFE Minister Dion George and President Cyril Ramaphosa to extend their one year contracts ending in November by two more years.
The workers also want wage increments to increase to above R200 a day, with some having asked for something within the R27,58 per hour minimum wage.
A provincial government official in the premier’s office, Abednigo Hlongwane received the MOA on behalf of premier Phophi Ramathuba while the Waste and Environment MMC at the Polokwane Municipality, Jeniffer Malope was among those who received a similar document of appeal on behalf of Mayor John Mpe.
They have been given 14 days to respond.
Read more in next week’s Polokwane Observer.