The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the North West is deeply disturbed by media reports that multiple service providers were appointed for the same job at the Madibeng Local Municipality.

This happens at the expense of electricity and water provision to our communities at a time when the focus is supposed to be on fixing local government.

We note all the allegations in the media against the municipality, particularly those against the sitting Mayor, Cllr Douglas Maimane.

We respect the fact that there is protocol that must be followed in the municipality but in the same breath we are of the view that such protocol cannot be used to stall the inevitable. If the Mayor wants to state his side after the council sitting, then let him engage the Speaker of the Municipality to convene a special council meeting which will deal with the allegations in the media space as these serve to tarnish the name of the municipality and of the organisation that deployed him to the municipality.

We cannot sit back and watch as individual actions paralyse and financially collapse our municipalities which are institutions that are meant to provide basic services to our communities including electricity and water. Municipal workers in general and SAMWU members in particular bear the brunt of immoral and inhumane activities by self-centred individuals who have no regard for ethical and moral leadership.

These allegations surface while municipal workers do not have the necessary essential tools of trade, and the municipality is confronted with operational and employee welfare challenges which have led to a low morale among the workforce.

As we fix local government, we call on the African National Congress in the province to leave no stone unturned and ensure that the necessary organisational and legal processes unfold in that municipality.

As COSATU we will work with and support our affiliate, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union on ensuring that workers do not become the victims of processes that are alleged to have benefitted certain individuals.

We will keenly monitor developments in the Madibeng municipality to ensure that indeed local government is being fixed.

For more information, please contact the COSATU North-West Provincial Secretary, Kabelo Kgoro on 067 410 4696