Matjhabeng municipal workers have had enough, and want the mayor and the municipal manager (MM) to resign with immediate effect.
The commissioner of the bargaining council has issued a certificate, valid for three years, for the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) to hold protected strikes.
To this end, they have already started consultations with constituencies.
“This will be to plan on when and how the strike will unfold in all six units of the municipality,” says a senior official within Samwu in the Matjhabeng Municipality.
He says Ventersburg, Hennenman, and Virginia have concluded the consultative meetings, and the next round will take place in Odendaalsrus, Allanridge, and Welkom.
At the conclusion of this, a clear mandate will be given to leadership as to when and how the strike will proceed.
All indications are that this is imminent and that it could take place within the next four weeks.
According to the official, the commissioner first gave Samwu and the employer seven days to reach an amicable agreement.
“But was not possible because the municipality did not send the MM to negotiate with us.
“Instead, the MM sent junior officials and the talks fell flat. The commissioner then gave the parties a further five days to negotiate, but to no end,” says the official.
According to a statement issued by Monyatso Mahlatsi, Cosatu provincial secretary, they are perplexed by the recent announcement by the secretary-general of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, that the mayor of Kopanong, Xolani Tseletsele, should be suspended and disciplined.
They are shocked that Mbalula does not deal with the elephant in the room, the executive mayor of Matjhabeng, Thanduxolo Khalipha.
The official says discipline must be applied consistently, and suggests that Khalipha should be recalled in the same manner.
