The South African Municipal Workers Union being the biggest trade union within the Local Government held its Extended Special Provincial Executive Committee as from the 2nd - 3rd of August 2012. In its deliberations the Extended Special Provincial Executive Committee considered the following matters:
1. Auditor General ‘s Report
The Extended Special Provincial Executive Committee felt that we have been vindicated by the AG's report on the call that we have been making as SAMWU relating to non-compliance within various municipalities in Limpopo. SAMWU has on many occasions indicated that various municipalities including Lephalale, Mopani and Mole-Mole continuous to behave as if there are no regulations within the Local Government undertaking.
1.1. MOPANI
This municipality has been identified as the only municipality in the Province which has on many occasions failed to achieve a clean audit and in the current report; the municipality has been identified as the only municipality with the highest irregular expenditure. The referred municipality has an unauthorized expenditure of more than R200 Million. Given the above, we question the wisdom of the Municipal Council in re-appointing the Municipal Manager.
We therefore re-affirm our call for the sacking of the Municipal Manager. The Municipal Manager of Mopani has demonstrated that he lacks skills to take the municipality forward. We are also saying that, if Municipal Managers are appointed on the basis of friendship then we will continue to fight.
1.2. LEPHALALE
SAMWU is deeply disappointed in the manner in which this municipality has on many occasions failed to account properly. We are therefore making a call to the municipal council to deal with officials who are implicated relating to the missing R9.5. Million. This municipality has on many occasions failed to achieve clean audit.
1.3. GREATER TZANEEN
The Auditor General has with regards to this municipality justified the call that SAMWU has consistently made relating to unnecessary expenditure in Greater Tzaneen. The Municipality has been faced with various legal challenges which were created by a lack of understanding the operations of Local Government.
The municipality has failed to respond to various legal directives and as a result of that, it has also been identified as the municipality which has been receiving qualified and disclaimers. We are also calling for the removal of the management in that municipality.
1.4. MOLE-MOLE
SAMWU wishes to re-affirm its call relating to the recall of the Mayor who seems to be clueless relating to the running of the municipality. If the removal of Mayors of both Lephalale and Mogalakwena was not purging then, we are convinced that, the Mayor of Mole-Mole should also be removed. We are not sure, as to why the African National Congress is keeping the Mayor because as far as we are concerned she is a Political liability.
1.5. BELA- BELA
We are making a very serious call that the Mayor of that Municipality is incapable of leading the municipality. We are demanding that Mr. Benjamin Lewabe who admitted that he stole R600-000 but yet he is still in the employ of the municipality be immediately suspended. We are giving them 7 days to institute disciplinary process failing which we are going to ensure that we mobilize our members to declare war on that municipality.
Therefore after having analyzed the Auditor General's report, SAMWU feels that, it is necessary for the Department of Co-operative Governance, Local Government and Traditional Affairs to convene the Local Government summit with the intention to shape the Local Government. We want to enter into partnership with the department so that collectively, we are able to rectify the situation
We are further making a call, that management of all municipalities which obtained qualified, adverse and disclaimer should be removed and those with potential to achieve unqualified reports should be placed under capacity building programs.
We want to announce that we are seek and tired of the situation in Mopani and Mole-Mole and as a result of that we are going to organize regional marches in both municipalities with the purpose of ensuring that Municipal Managers of both Mole-Mole and Mopani be removed and also the recall of the Mayor of Mole-Mole. Part of our action will also include lobbying the communities of those areas to join us. We are prepared to compromise on certain issues and as for Mole-Mole and Mopani we are not prepared to compromise.
We further wish to indicate that all appointments which were made in contravention of the amended Municipal Systems Act in particular with reference to Vhembe District Municipality who have interviewed the former General Manager - Technical Service for possible re-employment be advised not to proceed due to the fact that he failed Council in that department. We also have a situation in Greater Giyani Municipality where a CFO who failed to obtain a clean audit in Makhado Municipality has been appointed. We are equally demanding that local government is not a dumping site for useless officials. This CFO's contract must be urgently terminated.
ON POLITICAL
On the Textbook Saga
SAMWU hereby wish to join COSATU and NGO's in calling for a speedy solution on the challenges of textbooks in the province. It is our firm belief that the future of our learners cannot be compromised by politics of the ruling party whatsoever.
Our learners have a right to have resources readily available for a conducive learning and teaching to take place. We are also calling for action to be taken against those responsible for this mess.
COSATU Provincial Congress
As COSATU in Limpopo is preparing to go to its Congress during the 17 - 18th August 2012, we wish to state that SAMWU in the province is ready and prepared to contribute constructively towards building a strong and vibrant COSATU in Limpopo.
Statement issued by SAMWU Limpopo Provincial Secretary, Simon Mathe, August 3 2012
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