George municipality rejects allegations of racial bias against municipal manager

The George Municipality has disputed allegations that municipal manager Michele Gratz is racist and vindictive after the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) lambasted her in a statement posted on Facebook.

The union has urged parties in the council to hold Gratz personally liable for fruitless and wasteful expenditure, while also threatening to strike over claims of racism and unfair labour practices.

Samwu Western Cape secretary John Mcanjana said in the last two years Gratz had removed five black directors from the municipality in what he called racial cleansing.

He said the union had recently won a review of the disciplinary hearings with the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) but Gratz had asked for legal opinions to review the latest outcomes.

“The obsession by Gratz to review all cases lost in the SALGBC has cost the municipality a lot of money which was paid to lawyers and workers who were reinstated after unsuccessful review applications by the municipality,” Mcanjana said.

“A lot of money was wasted in paying for substitute workers as the incumbents were sent home by Gratz.

“It is clear that Gratz sees the municipality outside the auspices of the SALGBC.

“We will not allow a situation wherein a vindictive individual like Gratz undermines collective bargaining.”

Municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards said the accusations made by Samwu were unfounded.

“The municipality notes the personal attack amid unfounded allegations made with regard to the Gratz by Samwu via a press release,” she said

She said the municipality had responded to Samwu via a February 6 letter that contained a factual response to each of their grievances.

According to the response, she said that since January Samwu fhad ailed to attend the local labour forum committee, leaving the municipality with no way forward in the dispute.

“Due process would be for Samwu to attend the committee meetings to submit their grievances and deal with other matters on the agenda,” Edwards said.

“The municipal manager and the municipality remain committed to sound labour relations but will not tolerate unsubstantiated and inaccurate allegations that have been responded to with facts.

“These are matters that need to be discussed and resolved in the forums legally created for this purpose.”