Shop stewards fear ‘witch-hunt’

FIVE South African Municipal Workers’ Union members who spoke on condition of anonymity were interviewed. All expressed fear that they could be suspended.

“[Union president Samuel] Molope and his top management are on a witchhunt, thinking if they sack those who questioned them about where Samwu’s missing millions are the problem will go away,” said a provincial shop steward.

“The union is going to split up, but we will never allow any individuals to be unaccountable,” said another union leader.

All the union members interviewed said Molope was covering up a relationship with Mpamba Solutions that reeked of embezzlement.

“We’re very worried about the millions of rands that seem to have been embezzled,” said one.

“Mpamba are paying themselves with our money. The more time is wasted, the more money we stand to lose . . . We want the leadership to be suspended and a forensic audit,” said this member.

“They’re playing delaying tactics. We have to now alert our members. We are going to the police to lay charges . . . But we also intend to go to [public protector] Thuli Madonsela to help us. If we have to be liquidated, then we have to walk down that road.”

Another union leader said Molope had been refusing to hand over bank statements to shop stewards.

“Since the financial matters have been raised in the central executive committee, the leadership is now sowing dissent in the structures, trying to find the whistleblowers and the people critical of their management of our union and our money,” said this member. — Pearlie Joubert