Workers fed-up with corruption

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the Limpopo has called upon the leadership of the ANC in the province to embark on a clean-up campaign of local government in  Limpopo.
The union said it is shocked by the ongoing corruption in municipalities in Limpopo.

SAMWU alleges that corruption is handled with kid gloves in municipalities and that there is a perception that it is
normal for municipal officials to engage in corrupt activities.
The union cites an example of alleged corruption where a private developer acquired un-serviced land at the market value of R8 million only to sell it to the department of co-operative governance at R52 million.
“We have been pleading with the HAWKS to act on matters of corruption which we continue to report to them on an ongoing basis, we now appeal to the public protector to look into these matters, as it is clear that the public protectors’ office is the only office that is serious about fighting corruption,” the union said in a statement on Monday.
In the Mopani district municipality, SAMWU alleges that municipal management and councilors are awarding sanitation tenders to themselves.
Here various directors within the municipality were arrested on charges of fraud and corruption and were released on bail ranging from R50 000 to R200 000 while criminal cases are heard in court but no internal action was ever taken against them by the municipality.
At the Blouberg municipality the council has suspended the Municipal Manager who then appealed to the Labour Court which dismissed his application.
SAMWU members are upset over the fact that this manager is still at the municipality despite his dismissal.
“What is astonishing is that the Mayor filled an affidavit in support of the Municipal Manager in defiance of the Council resolution. It is a huge problem when a Mayor deviates from regulations and claims to be enjoying support from the National leadership of the ruling party,” SAMWU’s statement reads.