Night refuse crew left hopeless
Dedication doesn t pay
Lulama Ginyigazi, 59, says after working for the municipality for years, he has nothing to show.
He is part of the Enoch Mgijima Local
Municipality (EMLM) refuse collection crew who work the night shift.
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This year I turn 60 and they will force me to retire,”
Ginyigazi said.
Ginyigazi has worked as a casual worker for years, waiting for the promise of permanent employment.
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I have been signing monthly contracts since 2016, instead I see other people being employed
me.” ahead of
The night crew said they were all disillusioned after being promised permanent jobs for years.
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Last year, only two were permanently employed out of 60 people.
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People who were not even working for the
us,” municipality got jobs ahead of said Zamikhaya Bavuma, 34, who said he had been working for EMLM for 12 years.
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We are told with every new budget we will changes,” be hired, but nothing ever said Bavuma. The night crew said they had to work every day, without any leave.
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For 365 days a year we have to be here. You cannot be absent for more than two days or you
fired,” are Bavuma said.
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Last month, one of us was fired after not being at work for a day. He did not even get a hearing.
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When the powers-that-be wanted the former municipal manager out, we were used to protest.
We poured pesticide in buildings as we were told he wanted to get rid of us. We were promised
here.” jobs. Now he has gone and we are still The workers said they had given up on receiving help from the union.
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Before lockdown we were told we would workers,” have to work because we are essential said Khayalethu Mazulwane, 54, another member of the crew.
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We only received two surgical masks and were told to wash them.
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Our stewards told us it was up to us because they would not be working as they were not
PPE.” equipped with
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We earn R3,800 a month and sometimes it is even less. Sometimes we get off at 9pm.
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Mazulwane said: We do not have transport at times and have to walk home. All those things
municipality.” mean nothing to this
The longest-serving member of the night shift crew, who has been at the municipality for 15 years, preferred not to be identified, saying he could not afford to lose his income.
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I have seen what happens to people who start complaining here. There is a phrase they use
‘ ’. often, Everything has consequences I have seen times,” consequences many he said. EMLM spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa said:
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The employees in question are EPWP employees and their contracts are renewed on a month-tomonth basis. It was agreed with organised labour in 2019 that these contract employees be employed on a permanent basis.
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A recruitment process ensued and 60 of them succeeded in securing permanent employment.
Others were unfortunately not successful.
”.
. . the next intake was to have been April,
’ but due to the municipality s financial situation, a moratorium on employment was introduced and all planned appointments have been stalled.
He said the crew worked shifts from 4.30 to 9.30pm, 35 hours per week, and were given days
“” off as per labour regulations and were entitiled holidays.” to overtime pay for weekends or public