SAMWU Condemns Endumeni Municipality’s Collapse and Calls for Immediate Accountability
23 June 2025
SAMWU Condemns Endumeni Municipality’s Collapse and Calls for Immediate Accountability
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) expresses its profound dismay at the alarming situation in Endumeni Municipality, where we believe its catastrophic collapse is being actively facilitated by both the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the Office of the Premier.
On 14 March 2025, a report, laden with damning findings from an investigation sanctioned by the MEC under Section 106 of the Municipal System Act, was presented to the Endumeni council. This critical report highlighted the irregular appointment of a security company, a blatant violation of SCM policy and applicable regulations. The report unequivocally recommended that disciplinary proceedings be instituted against the Municipal Manager, Mr Sithembiso Ntombela, and another senior official, in addition to the laying of criminal charges with the SAPS. The MEC explicitly directed the council to table this report for deliberation and to consider its vital recommendations, allowing them a mere 21 days to report back on the progress of its implementation.
Yet, instead of swift action, we witnessed a concerted campaign by the governing IFP/DA coalition to obstruct the tabling of this report, a transparent attempt to shield the implicated officials from accountability. Despite immense pressure from the media, the Speaker eventually issued a notice for a council meeting to address the report. However, on the appointed day, not a single councillor from the governing coalition attended, rendering the meeting impossible and forcing its abandonment. These deliberate delays afforded the Municipal Manager sufficient time to resign from his position, escaping any consequences for his actions.
What exacerbates this already appalling situation is the shocking revelation that the Municipal Manager actually resigned to take up a senior position at the Office of the Premier, where he now serves as the Acting Chief Financial Officer. It is utterly reprehensible that an individual responsible for the collapse of a government institution should be rewarded with a promotion to the highest office in the province – an office that is expected to embody and uphold the most stringent standards of moral and ethical leadership.
Mr Ntombela embarked on a systematic persecution and purge of our dedicated members. Some were unjustly suspended for protracted periods on baseless allegations, while others faced dismissal, only for these dismissals to be rightfully overturned by the Bargaining Council, incurring astronomical legal costs for this already beleaguered Municipality. In one particularly egregious case, this cash-strapped Municipality squandered over R5 million in legal fees conducting an internal disciplinary hearing and an arbitration, only to suffer a resounding defeat at arbitration. Now, in a display of sheer arrogance and disregard for public funds, they intend to pursue a hopeless review application with the Labour Court, an endeavour likely to cost the Municipality millions more.
As a Union, we refuse to stand idly by and witness our members being terrorised, nor will we permit disciplinary processes to be weaponised against them. We will deploy every legal instrument at our disposal to compel this Municipality to respect the hard-won rights of our members in the workplace. To this end, we will be consulting with our members and our internal structures to formulate a robust program of action. This program will commence with peaceful demonstrations against this intransigent employer, and may regrettably culminate in a full-blown strike, leading to a complete shutdown of services.
In conclusion, as a Union, we remain steadfast in our commitment to resolving workplace problems through constructive dialogue and the utilisation of legislated forums of engagement. However, let it be unequivocally clear: we will not hesitate to invoke the ultimate tool at our disposal – the withholding of our labour.
Issued by SAMWU Professor Sibankulu Region
Jabulile Mokoena
Regional Secretary
071 338 7460