VANDERBIJLPARK – The fully fledged demonstration saw the Vanderbijlpark CBD painted red as employees sang and chanted with placards on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
Several organizations supported the mass action to handover a memorandum of grievances to the management of the institution.
Different speakers graced the lorry stage to issue their messages of support, however the union bosses delivered keynote addresses.
Secretary of SAMWU in Sedibeng Thembinkosi Pulu said Emfuleni has turned into Hollywood.
“Everyone in this municipality is acting. Councillors in Emfuleni are all actors. You come here looking for the municipal manager, you don’t find him, instead you find an actor in that office. The mayor is acting, the MM is acting, everyone is acting like this is Hollywood. Emfuleni has turned into Hollywood,” he said.
“You have become the Connie Fergusons of this world. You are no longer Politicians, but actors. The Acting MM [April Ntuli] is like SABC 1s Uzalo’s ‘Nkunzi’,” he added.
Nelson Mokgotho, SAMWU’s National President said “the absence of the mayor shows that he takes workers for granted”.
Mokgotho further added that SAMWU is not afraid of removing ‘corrupt politicians’ to ensure the smooth running of the municipality.
SEA OF RED: thousands of SAMWU members marched to Emfuleni Local Municipality over rampant fraud and corruption, Nepatism and collapse of service delivery among many other issues. pic.twitter.com/nIDnANonG0
— Sifiso Jimta (@JimtaSifiso) January 31, 2023
He highlighted that salaries are the right of employees and no one is doing employees a favour.
“Should the municipality not respond they will see another march in this headquarters in the future,” he said.
