Tebogo Msimanga |
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU), Cape Town Region, says it will stage a march on Saturday, 29 May 2021 against the City of Cape Town in defence of their rights as workers employed by the municipality.
Regional Secretary Mikel Kumalo said racism, inconsistent application of the city’s disciplinary procedures and unnecessary attacks on shopstewards in the form of warnings and disciplinary steps were registered by the shopstewards. “In one example, a senior traffic officer intervened when a white officer in a lower rank assaulted another traffic officer, and was severely reprimanded and sworn at by the white junior officer, in front of other traffic officers.”
According to Khumalo, when this senior black officer went to go and register a complaint with his seniors, he was told the white traffic officer in question, just bought a new car, a house and that his wife is pregnant, and that he cannot afford to be charged and sanctioned.
“On the contrary, this senior black officer, a Samwu shop steward, is now facing three disciplinary hearings running at the same time, with no leniency towards him” said Khumalo.
He said the City of Cape Town staff are constantly brought up on charges and sanctioned if the City discovers that family members or spouses are running businesses from their homes.
Khumalo added that they will be presenting the City of Cape Town with clear-cut cases of racism, intimidation of our shopstewards, and the skewed implementation of their disciplinary procedures.
