Municipal strike impacts service delivery

MOKOPANE - Contractors were called to assist with basic service delivery this week as workers continued with strike action at the Mogalakwena Municipality. Workers cite the inadequate benchmarking of salaries compared to similar-sized municipalities as the reason for the strike action.
Acting municipal manager, Markus Mthombeni, arranged for the contractors to assist with the clean-up following violent protests last week and with refuse removal this week. In the meantime Mayor Parks Sebatjane and senior delegates have been meeting with a Cooperative Governance,
Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs delegation to discuss the way forward.
Sebatjane told Northern News last week that the municipality recognised the seriousness of the situation and added that benchmarking was a complicated issue. “We are interacting with the provincial treasury to find a solution as to how far we can go with regards to compensation, because you can’t have compensation at the expense of service delivery,” he stressed.
During last week’s riots several people were injured and four were arrested.
Percy Nketsi, who is said to be the official representative for the municipal workers (which includes members from both the South African municipal workers union (SAMWU) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU), appeared in the Mokopane Magistrate’s court on Tuesday morning facing charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.
He was released on bail of R500 and the judge warned that he should not participate in further violent public activities. He will appear in court again on 22 April.
“I am a law-abiding citizen and appreciate the outcome of the proceedings,” he said, but added that if the municipality did not resolve the issue of benchmarking, the strike would continue.
Korny Dekker, a DA councilor in Mokopane, confirmed that meetings were taking place this week, but that service delivery continues to be heavily impacted despite the use of private contractors.
Dekker has offered to keep anyone
updated with any issues relating to service delivery. SMS your name and number to cel: 082 878 1502 to receive updates.