Tebogo Msimanga |
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) says it has noted with great concern the trend by several municipalities that have indicated that workers’ salaries for the month of May will be delayed. The Ditsobotsa, Lekwa-Teema, Emfuleni and Kareeberg Local municipalities in North West, Gauteng and Northern Cape have indicated that workers will this month be receiving their salaries late.
SAMWU General Secretary Dumisane Magagula said on the other hand, the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality has also written to employees informing them that third parties such as medical aid and pension and allowances such as standby, shift and camping allowances will only be paid in the first week of June.
“The failure of municipalities to pay is symbolic of the financial strain that the country’s municipalities are facing. “We are of the view that the current municipal funding model as it is, deliberately sets up municipalities for failure”.
Magagula further said they can not only blame the funding model for the financial situation which municipalities find themselves in. “When Ditsobola Local Municipality failed to pay employees in February, the Union leadership held a meeting with the municipal management, only to be told that the municipality has not been billing clients since July 2022”.
He added that the municipality has failed to fill key vacancies such as Section 56 and 57 managers, resulting in the institution not being able to optimally function.
SAMWU is demanding the immediate intervention of the Gauteng, North West and Northern Cape Provincial Governments in these municipalities.
