PHUTI MOSOMANE
THE South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) General Secretary, Dumisane Magagula, has confirmed that several municipalities have informed workers about the delay in their May salaries.
The union said this concerning trend is observed across numerous municipalities in the country, prompting it to call upon provincial governments to intervene.
In specific regions such as North West, Gauteng, and Northern Cape, municipalities including Ditsobotsa, Lekwa-Teema, Emfuleni, and Kareeberg Local municipalities have notified their employees about the late payment of salaries this month.
Moreover, the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality has also issued a notice to its employees, informing them that third-party payments like medical aid, pension, and various allowances such as standby, shift, and camping allowances will only be disbursed in the first week of June.
“We have also received reports that workers at Lepelle Northern Water have not been paid their performance bonuses as per the contract of employment,” Magagula said.
He said municipalities have made it fashionable to pay workers their salaries late, particularly the Ditsobotsa Local Municipality which is for the second time this year delaying payment of employees’ salaries, with notices of such delays only being communicated to employees on the eve of pay day.
The failure by municipalities to pay is symbolic of the financial strain that the country’s municipalities are facing.
“We have as a Union been calling for the review of municipal funding model to ensure that municipalities do deliver on their constitutional mandate.”
“We are of the view that the current municipal funding model as it is, deliberately sets up municipalities for failure,” he said.
When Ditsobola Local Municipality failed to pay employees in February, SAMWU said its leaders held a meeting with the municipal management, only to be told that the municipality has not been billing clients for services rendered since July 2022.
The union urged municipalities to ensure that they put in place revenue collection mechanisms to be able to meet their financial obligations, especially the payment of employees’ salaries.
The Emfuleni Local Municipality is also a repeat offender in delaying employees’ salaries.
On several occasions, the municipality has had its bank account attached by Eskom due to non-payment.
“We are informed that the current delay in the payment of salaries is as a result of the municipality’s bank account being attached by Eskom,” he said.
Magagula called on the Provincial Government to intervene at the Emfuleni Local Municipality.
He said the decision by the Provincial Government to remove the municipality under administration was ill-timed as there is no proof that the municipality has improved its finances and is in a better position to deliver services to residents.
“We further call on the National Treasury to fast-track the allocation of the R56 billion that was announced by the Minister of Finances as Eskom relief grant.”
“We are of the view that this relief grant will assist many ailing municipalities to refocus some of the resources that they have to servicing other debts and importantly the payment of salaries for employees. Municipalities such Emfuleni and their employees cannot continue being punished for the failures which are not of their own making,” he added.
Last Thursday, SAMWU demanded the immediate intervention of the Gauteng, North West and Northern Cape Provincial Governments in these municipalities.
“Our immediate demand is the payment of these workers’ salaries, it cannot be that employees have laboured for these municipalities for a month with dedication and diligence, yet when the time for salary payment comes, they receive letters. All these workers should receive their salaries with immediate effect,” he said.
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