SANDILE MOTHA
THE gloves are off between the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province.
At the centre of the schism is what the union calls negligence and uncaring attitude by the district municipality for its alleged failure to protect workers from contracting the novel corona virus.
Asamkele Ntaka, SAMWU regional secretary told Inside Metro that in less than a week two of their workers have tested positive for Covid-19.
“In one of the buildings in the municipality, an employee tested positive for Corona. The municipality made a promise that they would close the building and disinfect but they have not done so. Because of this negligence, two more workers in the same building have also tested positive,” said Ntaka.
He said despite the Chris Hani District carrying the heavy burden of coronavirus infections in the province, the municipality has failed to put precautionary measures to protect workers.
“ We have heard several meetings with management to ask them to provide workers with protective clothing. There is a severe shortage of sanitisers, thermometers and personal protective equipment. The only defence that the municipality gives us is that that they do not have the necessary budget,” explained Ntaka.
Ntaka said the municipality has instead made funds available for the advertisement of new posts despite claiming it have no available funds. He said the union who is the majority union in the local government sector has since threatened to pull their workers out of the areas they consider to be Covid-19 hotspots.
“Their priorities are misplaced, where will the money to pay the new workers come from? Our view is that this undesirable move to employ people at all costs is not innocent and should be scrutinised,” added Ntaka.
The union said under the current status quo it was clear that the district was not ready for level 3, saying the ease off would lead to more infections and fatalities.
However, municipal spokesperson Thobeka Mqamelo said the union’s stance was opportunistic, saying there had been ongoing deliberations between the union leaders and management.
“It is unfortunate that the union is turning a sensitive issue into a political football. The municipality has opened it doors since day one discussing with the union and trying to find solutions to the issues that’s they are raising. For them to suddenly go out of the negotiation and make noise outside is totally uncalled for. This virus can only be defeated if we join hands in working towards minimising it impact,” said Mqamelo.
She confirmed that vacancies were recently advertised in the municipality but denied that this was a political expediency exercise.
“The only vacancies that the municipality has advertised are critical posts such as the beefing up of health professionals who will help us in the fight against Covid-19,” she said.
Chris Hani District account for the highest coronavirus fatalities in the Eastern Cape Province, standing at 14 people who have lost their lives. It has also recorded more than 300 positive COVID-19 cases.