Protest over ‘ jobs for pals ’ in council

lors. They claimed a number of vacancies had been advertised at the municipality and that undeserving people, including those without matric, were hired based on their association with some councillors.

Community leader Roger Nhlapo said people who met the requirements were over- looked. “There were posts advertised by the municipality. Most of them were for general workers, and the standard requirement was a Grade 10 certificate.

“However, most of the 15 people who were hired are not in possession of the required Grade 10 certificates.”

Nhlapo said he knew of several people who were hired without meeting the requirements. “I grew up with some of them and I know for a fact that they did not even get to Grade 10, yet they were given employment. ”

Following the residents’ initial complaint two months ago, eight of the 15 people who were allegedly employed without the required qualifications were “suspended pending an investigation”.

But Nhlapo alleges that those people were seen going about their duties last week.

“The municipal manager [Thabiso Tsoaeli] promised to give us feedback into the investigation two weeks ago.

“But we have not heard anything from him since, and we were very surprised to see some of the people who had been put on suspension back at work last week.”

Tseliso Maitse, communications manager for the municipality, said he had not received the residents’ memorandum as it was handed over to “one of our units”.