The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the North West Province is concerned by the continued delayed payment of workers’ salaries at Ditsobotla Local Municipality. For several months this year, the municipality has failed to pay workers their salaries on time, in line with their contracts of employment. Currently, workers at the municipality have not been paid their August salaries which were due on August 25th. 

The failure by the municipality has resulted in all workers unable to feed their immediate and extended families, while they are also being harassed by their creditors who are demanding to be paid. Of great concern to us is that, as a result of the non-payment of salaries, employees do not have the means to report for duty. The very same employer who has failed to honor its contractual obligation towards employees needs these employees to report for duty on an empty stomach. 

This painful situation which the Ditsobotla Local Municipality has put workers in will have tremendous consequences for residents within the municipality. Residents who rely on basic services from the municipality for their daily survival will unfortunately not be receiving services. 

The financial situation faced by the municipality is indicative of the overall challenges faced by municipalities in the province. It is unfortunate that despite the intervention by the North West Provincial government, there has been little to no improvement on governance, finances and the ability of the municipality to deliver services to residents. It is for this reason that as SAMWU, we call on the North West Provincial Government to intensify its intervention at the municipality. 

The provincial government is empowered by the Constitution to play an oversight role within municipalities and intervene with the aim of ensuring that municipalities fulfill their constitutional mandate to residents. Workers and residents within the municipality have however not seen any results from the current support that is being provided by the provincial government. 

The time has come for the provincial government to redeem itself and demonstrate that intergovernmental relations can work in the country. As SAMWU, we call on the Provincial Treasury to ensure that Ditsobotla Municipality is capacitated and funded to be able to deliver services to residents and pay workers their salaries. 

As SAMWU, we plead to the consciousness of the executive in the province to provide reprieve for workers and residents of the municipality. As workers, we want a government that delivers, a carrying government that does not subject residents to hunger, poverty and starvation.  

Issued by SAMWU North West Province

Vincent Diphoko

Provincial Secretary 

083 580 8815