Entity workers and part of a faction within the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) said they are happy about the removal of former MMC of Environment and Infrastructure Development, Anthony Still, by Mayor Herman Mashaba.
From a faction that claims to have the real following of its members, Esther Mtatyana said she and her fellow member, Lindiwe Mazibuko, who work at Pikitup and City Power respectively, are happy about the removal of Still because, they said, he showed no interest in allegations of corruption within the two entities.
A press release, sent out on 21 February read, “Within a period of three months in his portfolio, Still was approached by the workers who brought to his attention issues pertaining to fraud and corruption at Pikitup and City Power that were inadequately dealt with by the previous City of Johannesburg’s administration.”
Mtatyana and Mazibuko said the findings of these investigations were never made available to them. They also claimed that Still did not want to investigate City Power’s managing director, Sicelo Xulu.
Still responded by first saying that Mtatyana and Mazibuko do not represent the legal faction of the union, but continued to give his side of the story. “I did not ‘show no interest’,” he said, adding that within Pikitup, a Group Risk and Assurance report was still being dealt with by the board.
“I also looked at the allegations against City Power and found no new compelling evidence,” he said.
On the availability of the reports of the investigations, Still said the boards are responsible for their release and, therefore, he could not comment on the matter.
Mtatyana and Mazibuko added that a zero tolerance of corruption is invaluable and they support it. “It is our view that the recall of Still as MMC for Environmental and Infrastructure services was a correct decision and we fully support it. We also welcome the appointment of Nico De Jager as the new MMC and [look forward] to a good stakeholder working relationship,” they said.
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