Fetakgomo Tubatse employees at loggerheads
BURGERSFORT
The erstwhile employees of
Fetakgomo Municipality have returned back to their offices in Apel. The workers
handed a letter to the Municipal Manager of the merged Fetakgomo Tubatse Local
Municipality Maureen Judith Ntshudisane citing safety concerns.
The letter came just a day after a mass protest
by the Steelpoort communities who also called for the merger of the two
municipalities to be dissolved.
The employees cited that they were intimidated
and were unprotected. They also highlighted concerns with regards to safety and
possible attacks from their fellow employees
Meanwhile the FTLM spokesman, Ngoato Rachidi
said the FTLM has since referred the matter to the MEC for cooperative
governance, human settlements and traditional affairs, for assistance and
employees’ unions for engagements, while internal investigations are under
way.
“We have also put on record that it is the
responsibility of the municipality to ensure that all employees are treated with
respect and dignity and that no employees have to feel intimidated or
threatened under any circumstances.”
According to insiders at the troubled
municipality, the main concern is placement of workers.
“Certain employees have been placed in higher
positions than previously occupied after the amalgamation without following the
procedures stipulated in the Section 12 notice or the collective agreement,
with certain employees being placed in positions that do not exist in the
organogram approved by the council after the amalgamation. Some workers were
even demoted,” our source revealed.
