Rafieka Williams
The Buffalo City Metro Municipality (BCCM) in the Eastern Cape said on Monday that it has met with unions as the Patriotic Alliance calls for disciplinary action and dismissals of workers involved in protest action.
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) on Monday denied any allegations that members taking to the streets to air their grievances was unlawful.
Members organised protests in the East London CBD last week calling on the municipality to pay heed to what they have described as maladministration.
The fallout between SAMWU and the Buffalo City municipality has since prompted Patriotic Alliance member, Tiphany Harmse, to pen a letter to the City Manager.
Harmse said while workers’ right to protest should be respected, “the conduct of the workers who embarked on the unlawful violent and destructive protest action can never be tolerated and accepted by the metro.”
Harmse has urged the municipality to institute disciplinary action and dismissals as a consequence of leaving Buffalo City’s economic hub in disarray.
Defending the union’s methods of protest, SAMWU Provincial Secretary Asamza Ntaka said that disruptions are the nature of protest action.
“When workers embark on an industrial action, services are bound to be affected and with BCMM there’s no exception,” Ntaka explained.
“The call by the political arm to discipline our members is very unfortunate and confirms the political interference with the administrative side of BCMM which has resulted into this maladministration and financial mismanagement by the metro.”
The Buffalo City municipality spokesperson Bongani Fuzile said they have been in talks with the union and during a meeting at the weekend the union had raised issues which had already been resolved.
“The grievances raised by SAMWU are neither new nor neglected. They have been consistently addressed through the proper channels. We call on SAMWU’s leadership to demonstrate maturity and accountability by… providing their members with factual information rather than inflaming tensions with misinformation and irresponsible conduct.”
SAMWU maintains, however, their outrage is owed to the municipality’s failure to engage in a “proper” manner.
Ntaka said the union has longstanding discontent with the outsourcing of Mdantsane Electricity Unit and accused the municipality of exploiting EPWP workers.
The union has also demanded transparency and participation in the financial recovery plan of Buffalo City municipality.
The PA has indicated that if corrective measures are not taken by the municipality in Buffalo City, the party would take further steps against the City’s Manager.
INSIDE METROS