By Molefi Sompane
Norman Selai
PARYS – A violent protest by striking Ngwathe Local Municipality workers over employment contracts last week left municipal property vandalized a year after workers downed tools calling for the resignation of the then Municipal Manager Norman Selai.
Former Setsoto mayor’s political advisor Advocate Thabo Mokwena confirmed on Thursday, August 16 that the disturbances would cost the municipality fortune in repairs.
“Workers have returned to work, and we are still negotiating and discussing their grievances with the hope of resolving them. But in the end, proper procedures should be followed according to the law,” he said.
Mokoena dismissed growing reports that the municipality had suspended some shop stewards. “They are being charged in their capacity as employees not shop stewards.”
He said workers had appealed for the charges to be dropped. “They have asked us to drop the charges against those suspended. However, we have stressed to them that everybody should adhere to the law; respect it and all the policies adopted by the council.
We are here on behalf of the community. So people have to know that disciplined is not optional but compulsory.
“We have procedures to follow when we have grievances and we won’t tolerate lack of discipline by our workers. The municipality and all the shop stewards are working together although they don’t agree with everything but the relationship is good. However, it is in everyone’s interests to suspend people if there are issues that need to be investigated.” Mokoena said.
He said it was amazing that workers were demanding permanent employment contracts.
“The matter is before the council.They know about it and it won’t be finalized when they want but municipality has the right to wait and decide for its benefit. However, we have assured them we are working out solutions.”
On Monday, August 13 workers downed tools, and sat outside the main office of the municipality singing the struggle songs while disrupting and jamming traffic passing through municipal offices.
Workers accused the municipality of lacking concern. “We were supposed to be given permanent employment contracts but the employer has been quiet about the matter. At the end he suspended our colleagues who were pushing for this matter to be finalized.”
“It is the only way that makes the employer to come on board after all we are disciplined workers.”