MEMORANDUM TO BE PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TSHWANE ON 7 FEBRUARY 2020
07 February 2020
MEMORANDUM TO BE PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TSHWANE ON 7 FEBRUARY 2020
1. COLLAPSE OF GOVERNANCE AND LEGISLATURE
Workers have witnessed that over the last four months section 79 meetings, Council
meetings have not been sitting or are collapsing due to political differences in Council. We have had 3 Mayors and 4 Acting City Managers over the last 40 months. This create instability in the administration and service delivery is affected. Further to that there is political interference in the administration and as the Mayor rightfully said the administration is politicized
We therefore demand the following
• That Council has until the end of February 2020 to get its house in order and discharge its responsibilities.
• That politicians stop interfering on the administration.
• That the post of Municipal manager be re advertised before the end of February 2020
• Failure to comply SAMWU will have no option but to decisively intervene.
2. MISREPRESENTATION OF QUALIFICATIONS BY CHIEF OF METRO
POLICE AND COLLAPSE OF THE DEPARTMENT
Over a period of time our Metro Police department has been hopping from one
Blunder to the other. Some of the challenges include the following: non-availability of ammunition over a period of 12 months; unilateral implementation of grading system (2000 intake); non-appointment of 171 recruits who have completed their training
Further to that the following information was brought to our attention especially
against the Chief of Metro Police
• That she misrepresented her qualifications
• That her appointment was irregular
• That no waiver was sought from the National Commissioner of SAPS before her appointment.
We therefore demand the following
• That all the 171 recruits be appointed immediately
• That the City ensure that ammunition is procured and maintain compliance of our shooting range
• That the City appoint 2000 intake on a correct grading system
• That the City act on the outcome of its investigation that the Chief of Police misrepresented her qualifications
• That Council suspend the Chief of metro Police pending disciplinary action
3. FUTURE OF POWER STATIONS
The country has a challenge of load shedding and equally the City has two Power
Stations ( Rooiwal and Pretoria West) with a capacity to generate 400 megawatts. This capacity can cushion the City for up to stage 5 or stage 6 loadshedding. We currently not generating because the City has not procured oil and coal and turbines are not fixed
We therefore demand the following
• That the City starts generating electricity at the two power stations
• That funds be availed to ensure availability of coal and oil and that all dysfunctional turbines be fixed
4. CHALLENGES AT EMERGENCY SERVICES
Council resolved to get rid of Chief of Emergency Services and an Acting Chief was appointed. We have since been informed that the suspended or dismissed Chief is still at work meaning we have two people in the same position. The department is not complying with Fire Brigade Services Act which requires that we have Fire Chief Officer who reports directly to City Manager. Further to that Disaster Management Act dictate that we have a Head of Disaster Management Centre who also report to City Manager
We therefore demand the following
• That the Acting City Manager implement decision of Council in respect of Mr Previn Govender
• That the EMS structure be reworked to ensure that both Head of Disaster and Fire Chief report to City Manager
• That we investigate the appointment of Mr First Aid in providing services to the City
5. CONDUCT OF LORETTE TREDOUX
We have noted with disappointment the behavior and conduct of Ms Lorette Tredoux
who is our Governance and Support Officer (GSO). Over a period of time the City has realized collapse of departments such as Human Capital and Group Legal under her watch. SAMWU alleges the following: 18% blunder; unilaterally changing conditions of service; Bursary blunder; Tender for attorneys; sabotaging benchmarking payments and appointing people without following staffing policy
We therefore demand the following
• That the Council conduct an investigation into all allegations and she be suspended to ensure noninterference with such investigations
6. SUSPENSION OF EMPLOYEES
We currently having many employees on suspensions some for a period of two years
Some of the said employees have not been charged and decisions of the bargaining Council are subverted. This include Senior and Junior employees and shopstewards
We therefore demand the following
• That all employees who have been on suspension for more than six months including Cde Seshoka be reinstated
7. REMUNICIPALISATION OF SERVICES
There seems to be a greater appetite by the employer to opt for private companies in
providing services. An example in point is the usage of fleet companies even when the City has its own fleet. Some of the managers will opt for CSS 46 trucks (like in Region 4) and retire 10 municipal trucks. Group Property is one department which will instead of appointing municipal cleaners push for appointment of private companies
The City signed a 12 years contract with a service provider to provide AFC machines and further that the same company collect the money and hand to the City. This was done even though the City had capacity to collect and only pay for machines. The procured AFC machines are not functioning properly leading to the City loosing a lot of revenue.
We therefore demand the following
• That the City insource its services
• That the City investigate the AFC contract and who signed and further consider terminating the contract
8. OHS INCLUDING BAD BUILDINGS
SAMWU has had discussions with both Group Property and the then City Manager, Dr Mosola on state of municipal buildings. The City requested 6 months to procure compliant buildings and to date 12 months has passed. The situation has deteriorated further and the City is now unable to even provide toilet paper in buildings. We have also observed that in some depots like at Pretoria West waste toilets and showers are not operational.
Delay in approving the adjustment budget may create a situation where the City might be unable to have enough funds to procure PPE. In some departments like Metro Police and EMS employees are made to drive unroadworthy vehicles and ambulances. There is also lack of specialized PPE for fire fighters
We therefore demand the following
• That the City has 14 days to ensure that all buildings are compliant. Failure to which SAMWU will have no option but to engage Department of Labour to close such non-compliant buildings
• That the City has 14 days to provide all employees with specified PPE
• That workers not be victimized for refusing to work without PPE
9. ROLE OF NAVA PILLAY
We have noted that a number of functions are being taken from departments and centralized in the City Manager’s office especially given to Mr. Nava Pillay. Such functions include management of Wonderboom Airport which has since been downgraded from Category 5 to category 2. Some of the functions are related to CSS 46 and we have noted that one of such company is alleged to have been paid 346 million in the last two if not three years
There is also allegation that Mr. Pillay facilitated that the City buy some parcels of lands at an inflated price
We therefore demand the following
• That the City investigate the allegations on how certain companies are enriched
• That the sale of such land parcels be investigated
• That Roads and Transport department with the help of Metro Police and other departments be empowered to make interventions at Wonderboom airport
10. SECURITY IN MUNCIPAL BUILDINGS
SAMWU has noted with concern that workers are being attacked in various municipal buildings due to lack of security. In some instances, infrastructure is being vandalized leading to service delivery interruptions. It’s clear that the only proper security is provided at Tshwane House due to the EM and CM residing in the building. Compounding the problem is that now of late every department seems to be in charge of its security
We therefore demand the following
• That Metro Police be tasked to ensure that all Municipal buildings are properly secured including Wastewater treatment plants and power stations
11. DANGER ALLOWANCE
Revenue agents are on a daily basis exposed to harmful situations and hazardous environment. Some have been bitten by snakes whereas others are assaulted by residents. Recently one of our members was amputated due to such situations
We therefore demand the following
• That the City pay Revenue agents and Meter Readers a danger allowance
12. REGIONALIZATION OF FUNCTIONS
The City took a conscious decision to decentralize functions and ensure that services are closer to communities. We have however realized that there are challenges with reporting lines and which functions should be regionalized.
We therefore demand the following
• That the City relook at the model and further clarify functions that should be decentralized
• That necessary funding be availed for all decentralized functions
Mpho Tladinyane
Regional Secretary
083 941 5888
Or
Valentine Matlala
Deputy Regional Secretary
0844 655 598