Ditsobotla municipality strike enters third week

Ditsobotla municipal workers downed tools demand sacking of acting municipal manager

Municipal services have come to a standstill for almost three weeks now at the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg in the North West. This follows the downing of tools by over 400 municipal workers who are demanding that their acting municipal manager resign.

The workers accuse the acting municipal manager of misconduct, after she allegedly lifted the suspension of two managers who were suspended by council over allegations of corruption.

The main unions in the municipality, South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) have joined forces and made their views clear on the issue of the acting municipal manager. Chairpersons for both unions, Fikile Jakeni and Martin Clark, say they will only return to work when their demands are fully met. The two called on council to immediately suspend, charge, discipline and fire the acting municipal manager.

Corrupt officials
Meanwhile, the municipality convened an urgent meeting to resolve the matter. Acting mayor, Festus Mosiane says they have ultimately resolved to act against corrupt officials. The resolution was that the officials involved must be dismissed with immediate effect.

The ANC in the North West has blamed people within its ranks for the current violence in the province, especially those who failed to make it during the last local government elections.

The protests are as a result of poor service delivery by a number of municipalities in the North West. In a statement released after a special Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting late last night, the ANC said there are people going around and using genuine grievances of the masses to mobilise lawlessness.