Union members threaten to set fire to municipality

OUTRAGED members of the SA Municipal Workers Union threatened to burn down the Oudtshoorn Municipality after discovering money deducted from their salaries each month had not been paid to their pension funds, medical aids and other third parties.

They believed the money had not been paid since November. Charges have been laid and police are investigating.

About a hundred workers took to the streets over the past two days, burning tyres and rubble in front of the municipal building while demanding swift action.

Yesterday, the municipality said “all monies that needed to be paid to the third parties have since been paid in full”.

Acting municipal manager Ronnie Lottering said the workers could have followed internal legal processes to voice their grievances instead of resorting to an unprotected illegal strike.

“This activity is a gross breach of the code of conduct that all are subscribing to and shows a great degree of irresponsibility.

“Management will ensure that all the necessary disciplinary actions are instituted accordingly.”

But despite the municipality’s assurances, union secretary Xolela Silinga said workers had laid criminal charges of fraud and corruption against Lottering and the municipality’s acting chief financial officer, Francois Human, for failing to pay the third parties.

“Our salary slips show that this money was deducted but we found out that it was never paid over. Workers are angry and they want answers. We will burn down this municipality and are prepared to go to jail if need be, but we will not allow people to rob the poor of their hard-earned money.”

Silinga said workers were fed-up with fraud and mismanagement at the local authority and called for national government intervention.

Police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie confirmed that a case of fraud and corruption had been opened by municipal employees.

Lottering said they were still negotiating with the union leadership.