By Johnathan Paoli
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) has maintained its resolution in light of a growing list of grievances against the Buffalo City Metro Municipality (BCMM).
The union is expected to lead a march through Buffalo City on Tuesday in the Eastern Cape to demand urgent intervention over financial mismanagement, corruption, poor service delivery, and violations of workers’ rights.
According to a media statement issued by SAMWU on Monday, the protest is a response to “numerous unresolved challenges that have plagued the municipality,” affecting not only workers but also the broader community.
At the heart of the union’s concerns is BCMM’s ongoing financial instability, despite being under a Financial Recovery Plan.
The most recent Auditor-General’s report flagged extensive financial mismanagement, with no evident accountability or improvement in service delivery.
“There has been no tangible improvement in the municipality’s financial situation, and the people of Buffalo City continue to suffer,” said the union.
SAMWU is also alarmed by allegations of corruption, citing revelations made during a visit from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).
These include irregularities in COVID-19 relief fund spending, unresolved infrastructure matters like the Mdantsane Swimming Pool, and the municipality’s refusal to implement key resolutions passed by its own Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC).
Union members are equally outraged by what they describe as “union bashing” and violations of the Labour Relations Act, particularly concerning the lack of consultation on the National Treasury’s Implementation Transversely Project.
Set to begin in July 2025, the project will convert some departments into entities, a move the union says has been introduced without engaging the workers it will impact.
The union also raised alarm over the municipality’s failure to include union input in the ongoing organisational redesign process.
Additionally, SAMWU criticised the municipality for refusing to implement Local Labour Forum (LLF) resolutions, such as the agreed-upon COVID-19 danger allowance.
They further expressed frustration over policy reviews that appear targeted at undermining workers rather than improving their conditions.
Outsourcing is another major flash-point.
The union condemned BCMM for increasingly outsourcing core services, such as electricity in Mdantsane and solid waste management — sidelining municipal staff in favor of private contractors.
“This undermines job creation and the municipality’s ability to provide reliable services,” the union stated.
The exploitation of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers was also highlighted.
SAMWU said many EPWP workers are being used to fill vacant positions without being offered permanent employment or benefits, exacerbating already serious staff shortages.
SAMWU blames these issues on the collapse of leadership in both political and administrative arms of the municipality.
“Unless there is a significant shift in leadership, especially ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, BCMM risks further decline,” warned the union, referencing the metro’s reduced electoral support in recent years.
The march is intended to send a clear message: workers and residents demand transparency, accountability, and a municipality that serves its people.
SAMWU has called on all community members to stand in solidarity and participate in the protest for a better Buffalo City.
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