SAMWU calls for mayor and MM to step down

Date: 06 November 2015 By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) staged a peaceful protest last Friday during which they called on the Makhado municipality’s mayor and municipal manager to resign.

The protesters marched to the municipal offices, displaying banners accusing the municipal manager, Isaac Mutshinyali, and the mayor, Cllr David Mutavhatsindi, of fraud, corruption and nepotism. A memorandum spelling out their grievances was handed over to the mayor.

The memorandum contains a number of accusations as to the manner in which tenders are awarded and claims made for expenses. Samwu alleges that Mutshinyali had awarded a tender to upgrade the municipality’s electrical infrastructure without following proper procedure to Spectrum Utility Management (Pty) Ltd. This was allegedly done before the tender was advertised and financed by means of a MIG grant, which SAMWU alleges had not yet been approved by the national treasury. 

The union also claims that the municipal manager submitted double claims for expenses relating to his relocation from Letaba. Questions were also asked about other expenses incurred. The municipality’s security company costs were also mentioned as an example of irregular expenditure. SAMWU alleges that more than R300 000 was spent on the personal security of the municipal manager.

The provincial secretary of SAMWU, Mr Cromwell Nhlemo, said that the union noted with disbelief the “blatant disregard of proper management of the municipality and complete lack of leadership by Mutavhatsindi and municipal manager, Mutshinyali.” He added that the members of SAMWU had noted that irregularities had occurred in the tender procurement process and that some tenders had been awarded to companies which charged the highest prices, but scored the lowest tender points. “This is contrary to what the evaluation committee had recommended,” he said.

“Since the induction of the mayor, the relationship between workers, management and the political management team has collapsed,” said Nhlemo. He further said that service delivery had been severely compromised, due to the lack of leadership and that in-fighting and mismanagement of funds within the municipality were rife.

Samwu members are also alleging that the council improperly employs friends and relatives in senior positions while temporary employees are removed, despite a mutual agreement once reached by both the trade union and the council to provide temporary employees with permanent posts.

“We are fed up with corruption and nepotism in this municipality. Some people are occupying some positions that they don´t even qualify for. Workers must be employed according to their credentials, not according to favours. We are going to fight this, and we want the two to vacate their positions since they are using municipal money for their personal interests,” Nhlemo said.

Nhlemo also complained about the lack of resources. “We do not have protective clothing, no cars for the municipality, we are understaffed, yet we are expected to render service to the community,” he said.

In an interview with Limpopo Mirror, DA councillor Albert Mafhala said that the mayor and municipal manager were employed by the community and should not enrich themselves. He said that if the ANC found any truth in the allegations, they must fire them. “We are elected by the community to serve the people with dignity,” he said.

Makhado Mayor David Mutavhatsindi said that they had received the memorandum of grievances and that the council would respond to their memorandum within seven days.

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Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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