Civic organisation South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Johannesburg says it will embark on a rolling mass action on March 25, 2022, in protest against the alleged dismissal of about 130 City of Joburg employees.
Workers allege that in March 2021 their fixed contracts were converted to permanent positions. They say they applied for vacancies advertised by the city and they were interviewed and subsequently employed because they met the requirements for the positions.
However, the City says the process followed was irregular and unlawful.
Now workers which include assistant directors, operational managers, messengers, and drivers have been furnished with letters where they were asked to make representation on how their irregular appointments should be regularised.
Sanco’s Simphiwe Hlafa says they are going to render Johannesburg ungovernable.
“We have applied for a march, a legal march that will take place on the 25th of March – we are going to shut down. Secondly, we are calling on all progressive councillors regardless of the party, they must make sure that there is no council sitting until she [Dr Mpho Phalatse] reverses what she has done. Thirdly, we call on all structures of Sanco to follow Mayor Phalatse wherever she goes and she must not address the residents of Johannesburg.”
VIDEO: Showdown looms between the City of Johannesburg and 130 employees
Meanwhile, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) says it will be taking the case relating to the alleged dismissal of the 130 City of Johannesburg workers to the local government bargaining council.
The unions say they are exploring all avenues including going to court to challenge the legality of the process. However, they have not ruled out embarking on strike action.
SAMWU’s Ester Mtatyana says as a union they believe the decision taken by the Joburg council is illegal and unlawful.
“The City has failed to give these employees an opportunity to be moved to other departments within the City, given the fact that they do not want to work with them anymore. Council is not an employer of these employees and as such, it cannot dismiss them. Their conditions of employment are dealt with by the administration and not council. Council is only responsible for Section 56 & 57, employees which are municipal managers and those who report directly to them,” says Ester Mtatyana.
