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Workers repairing a road
The Mogalakwena Local Municipality in Limpopo has filed an application in the Polokwane High Court to reverse the appointment of more than 200 workers that it says were appointed without due process.
The municipality has approached the court to nullify the appointment of the general workers.
The municipality has spent more than R10 million annually on the salaries of the workers. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) previously recommended the municipality to declare the appointments irregular.
Municipal spokesperson, Malesela Selokela says they cannot divulge details because the matter will be heard in the Polokwane High Court in March.
“It is public knowledge; indeed, we have received a recommendation in the SIU report. The report has been perused by the municipal manager and the management. Unfortunately, it is a very sensitive matter which is currently sub judicare, it is still before the court. We will give the determination once the matter is resolved. You will remember these people have been here for more than five years. Once we get that information, we will provide that information to you on how much we have spent as the municipality.”
Meanwhile, South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) provincial secretary, Patrick Aphane says they will challenge the application to lay off hundreds of workers.
“Samwu in Limpopo has learnt with shock that Mogalakwena Municipality intends to lay off 261 workers who are members of Samwu. As a union we have taken a decision that we are going to challenge this decision within the frame of the Labour Relations Act. In all the dispute, the resolution forum, we will definitely seek political interventions as a union because we can’t afford to have 261 workers losing their jobs.”
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