Samwu is preparing to interdict the Sol Plaatje Municipality to prevent the appointment of 28 security personnel.
THE SOUTH African Municipal Union (Samwu) is preparing to interdict the Sol Plaatje Municipality to prevent the appointment of 28 security personnel. The union claims that the municipality did not follow the correct selection and recruitment procedures.
This is despite the fact that the mayor placed a moratorium on the appointments earlier this week due to “serious cash flow problems” within the municipality.
Samwu chairperson, Daily Semau, said that the majority of candidates were not qualified and were not registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira).
“We are going ahead with the interdict even though the mayor has stopped the appointments. We have given the municipality until Friday (today) to respond to lawyer’s letters, failing which we will ask for an urgent interdict. We want to rescue the municipality from having to face litigation or labour disputes if the contracts are retrospectively declared invalid.
“During the first lockdown, security appointments were snuck in so we do not want to take any chances. After lockdown restrictions were relaxed and we arrived at work to find them appointed.”
He indicated that, to their knowledge, some of the new contracts were in the process of being approved.
“The date of appointment of February 1 was later shifted to March 1. This is while the staff complement of the municipality is bloated and the council is cash strapped. All vacancies are supposed to have been frozen in light of cost containments.”
Semau added that the vacancies were also not advertised internally or externally.
“There are cleaning and expanded public work (EPWP) staff, who are graded as security guards and are registered with Psira. These employees should be given preference in applying for permanent positions with more benefits.”
Spokesperson for Sol Plaatje Municipality, Sello Matsie, stated that no security appointments had been approved.
