SAMWU slams Emfuleni Municipality for burning R55 million to avoid paying R211 000 to an employee

Mpho Tladinyane, SAMWU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, has lambasted the Emfuleni Municipality over claims that R55 million in legal fees, originally earmarked for service delivery, has been squandered just to avoid paying a worker a mere R211,000.

Tladinyane said that the scandal is not just a betrayal of workers and residents but a stark illustration of the municipality’s “greed, incompetence, and disregard for collective bargaining”.

“The municipality’s actions have forced a dedicated worker to endure unnecessary delays, humiliation, and uncertainty. The South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) and the courts have affirmed what we knew all along: the municipality owes the money, the worker’s case is justified, and the payment is long overdue,” said Tladinyane.

Tladinyane said SAMWU demands immediate compliance with the ruling and an end to wasteful spending on legal battles that undermine collective bargaining.

“Emfuleni must cease its reckless pursuit of workers and start honoring its commitments,”