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COSATU in the Eastern Cape supports the march organized by one of its affiliated unions, South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) to be held on 08 June 2022.

SAMWU workers in the Eastern Cape will be united in the demonstration to highlight their plight in several municipalities, in the main being Amathole District Municipality (ADM). Workers in ADM across the unions are united in defence of their hard-won rights that are violated in an unprecedented manner. Workers are resolute that they cannot be passive while their rights are undermined and trampled on.

The Amathole District Municipality has gotten into the habit of criticizing the union and being defensive instead of being cooperative in resolving matters at hand. Instead, it continues to undermine the provisions of the labour legislations. Furthermore, this employer uses intimidating tactics by implementing unfair disciplinary action against shop stewards whose aim is to silence the union and instill fear in workers. As it stands, eighteen shop stewards are currently suspended by the Municipal Manager. This proves that the undermining of Collective Bargaining Agreements is among the challenges faced by the union under the leadership of the notorious Municipal Manger, Mr Thandekile Mnyimba.

The tenure of this Municipal Manager has been characterized by poor labour relations, adverse audit report and poor performance by the municipality. Instead of stabilizing the municipality, the situation has worsened and the municipality has gone bankrupt. Under his leadership, there were interventions made by the Department of Corporate Governance & Traditional Affairs as well as Treasury. All these interventions have not yielded the intended outcomes because of non-cooperation on the part of the municipality.

Surprisingly, the same Municipal Manager has been irregularly reappointed, according to our affiliate.

We are calling upon COSATU affiliates, alliance partners and civil society to support the march in an effort to address the plight of municipal workers.

Details of the march are as follows:

11h30 – Marchers assemble at North End Stadium, East London where Alliance partners will deliver messages of support.

12h30 – March commences (leaves North End Stadium to ADM Offices in Chislehurst).

14h00 – Handing over of memorandum to ADM Mayor and MEC for COGTA.

Issued by COSATU Eastern Cape