Collapse of Tshwane Council a travesty for service delivery

August 17, 2023 adminPress

27 February 2020

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in Tshwane is saddened by the collapse of the Council meeting today 27 February 2020. This was after some Councillors walked out of the meeting alleging that the Speaker of Council was not better placed to preside over the meeting. It is now more than three months that Council meetings have been collapsing.

In trying to salvage what remains of our beloved Capital City, SAMWU staged a march on February 2020 demanding that Councillors shelve their egos and political differences and process the business of Council. Today’s Council was supposed to amongst others resolve on adjustment budget and Suspension of the Governance and Support Officer

As workers we disappointed that collapse of Council will have far reaching implications including the following

1. The City has to apply to both COGTA and National Treasury to request condonation in approving the adjustment budget. Its also important to note that due to less revenue, the City had to adjust budget downwards

2. City is running the risk of losing 500 million in grants from National Treasury

3. The Acting City Managers contract is coming to an end by month end meaning that there will be no Head of Administration from 1 March 2020. Impact

4. The City is without the Executive arm since the resignation of the Executive Mayor meant that there is no more members of the mayoral committee.

5. Workers risk not being paid at the end of March 2020

In trying to cure the situation SAMWU will be writing to both the MEC and Minister for COGTA to intervene in the next seven days and that they further consider section 139. We also taking legal advice to consider wayforward in case Council is not convened in the next 7 days.

Issued by SAMWU Tshwane Region

Mpho Tladinyane
Regional Secretary
083 941 5888