SAMWU CONDEMNS EMFULENI’S R55 MILLION BETRAYAL OF WORKERS AND RESIDENTS

24 February 2025

SAMWU CONDEMNS EMFULENI’S R55 MILLION BETRAYAL OF WORKERS AND RESIDENTS

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is outraged by the latest disgrace from Emfuleni Local Municipality. Once again, workers and residents are paying the price for the municipality’s greed, incompetence, and complete disregard for collective bargaining. The shocking revelation that Emfuleni has blown over R55 million in legal fees, money meant for service delivery just to avoid paying a worker a mere R211,000 is not just a scandal; it is an outright betrayal of workers and residents alike.

This worker, who has dedicated years of service to the municipality, has been forced to endure unnecessary delays, humiliation, and uncertainty, only for the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) and the courts to confirm what we all knew: the municipality owes the money, the worker’s case is justified, and the payment is long overdue. As SAMWU, we demand that the municipality immediately comply with the ruling and pay what is owed to the employee. Emfuleni must stop wasting municipal funds to pursue workers and undermining collective bargaining.

But this is bigger than one case—Emfuleni’s reckless actions are an attack on the fundamental principles of collective bargaining, which is the foundation of South Africa’s labour laws. Instead of honouring its commitments, the municipality has chosen to burn through millions in a losing legal battle while workers suffer through delayed salaries and residents endure failing services.

This is the same municipality that repeatedly fails to pay its workers on time—most recently in December, when employees and their families faced the prospect of a bleak festive season because their salaries were delayed. Meanwhile, Emfuleni is drowning in debt, owing billions to Eskom and Rand Water, yet it somehow finds R55 million to waste on unnecessary legal fees. This money could have gone towards reducing debt, fixing infrastructure, and improving services for the residents of Emfuleni—but instead, it has been squandered in a shameful display of arrogance and mismanagement.

SAMWU demands accountability from the municipality. Those responsible for this reckless waste must be held personally liable for every cent of fruitless expenditure. They should not be allowed to hide behind their positions while squandering public funds. We call for a full investigation into this blatant abuse of municipal resources.

We also demand that Emfuleni immediately implement the SALGBC ruling, stop its war on workers, and put an end to the reckless mismanagement of municipal funds. This situation is unacceptable, and we will not remain silent while workers and residents continue to suffer due to poor leadership and financial mismanagement.

Issued by SAMWU Gauteng Province

Mpho Tladinyane
Provincial Secretary
083 941 5888

Papikie Mohale
National Media Officer
076 795 8670