Buffalo City Metro (BCM) employees who protested outside an East London conference venue during a heated council meeting in April will soon face the music.
A report tabled in council yesterday recommended that all workers who participated in the demonstration should face disciplinary action.
“It is recommended that based on the findings of the line managers on who are the staff members that participated in the demonstration or were absent without permission on April 29, the necessary disciplinary action will be taken,” the report reads.
The more than 50 workers, mostly members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), demonstrated outside an East London hotel in protest against the anticipated suspension of municipal manager Andile Fani.
Late in April, council instructed former mayor Zukiswa Ncitha to put Fani on special leave.
The action was over allegations that Fani instructed officials to tamper with a tender box and disregarded national Treasury regulations on metro finances.
During the April 29 council meeting, Ncitha tabled the findings into allegations behind closed doors.
The Daily Dispatch earlier reported that Ncitha had found Fani guilty on a charge of misconduct and in that meeting gave him seven days to explain why he should not be suspended.
While the meeting was in session, Fani supporters protested outside the venue during working hours.
Even though the report discussed in yesterday’s council meeting recommended the disciplinary action against the employees, names of those who participated in the demonstration were not reflected.
Numerous councillors yesterday demanded that the municipal manager include all the names of those involved and present them during the next council meeting in July.
“It was clearly stated in the resolutions of the minutes of our past meeting that the names must also be attached to the report,” said ANC councillor Sakhumzi Caga.
“We also accept the recommendations of the disciplinary actions that need to be taken against those involved.”
Caga was seconded by PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo, who said even though he supports that the metro workers’ names be reflected, the council should not have selective decision making.
“It is not the first time municipal workers demonstrate outside a council meeting.
“So when we are dealing with these issues, let us not be selective and seem like we are victimising particular sections of the workers.
“At the City Hall , chaos erupted when some workers stormed a council meeting and we were mum in terms of saying the report must come to council,” Mdyolo said.
He was referring to a mass action protest by Samwu workers in the BCM who allegedly petrol-bombed part of the city hall.
Samwu could not be reached for comment at time of writing.
Yesterday, a handful of Samwu members protested outside the Abbotsford Christian Centre against the secondment of BCM officials who were given huge pay increases. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
Protesters may face discipline from BCM
A report tabled in council yesterday recommended that all workers who participated in the demonstration should face disciplinary action.
“It is recommended that based on the findings of the line managers on who are the staff members that participated in the demonstration or were absent without permission on April 29, the necessary disciplinary action will be taken,” the report reads.
The more than 50 workers, mostly members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), demonstrated outside an East London hotel in protest against the anticipated suspension of municipal manager Andile Fani.
Late in April, council instructed former mayor Zukiswa Ncitha to put Fani on special leave.
The action was over allegations that Fani instructed officials to tamper with a tender box and disregarded national Treasury regulations on metro finances.
During the April 29 council meeting, Ncitha tabled the findings into allegations behind closed doors.
The Daily Dispatch earlier reported that Ncitha had found Fani guilty on a charge of misconduct and in that meeting gave him seven days to explain why he should not be suspended.
While the meeting was in session, Fani supporters protested outside the venue during working hours.
Even though the report discussed in yesterday’s council meeting recommended the disciplinary action against the employees, names of those who participated in the demonstration were not reflected.
Numerous councillors yesterday demanded that the municipal manager include all the names of those involved and present them during the next council meeting in July.
“It was clearly stated in the resolutions of the minutes of our past meeting that the names must also be attached to the report,” said ANC councillor Sakhumzi Caga.
“We also accept the recommendations of the disciplinary actions that need to be taken against those involved.”
Caga was seconded by PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo, who said even though he supports that the metro workers’ names be reflected, the council should not have selective decision making.
“It is not the first time municipal workers demonstrate outside a council meeting.
“So when we are dealing with these issues, let us not be selective and seem like we are victimising particular sections of the workers.
“At the City Hall , chaos erupted when some workers stormed a council meeting and we were mum in terms of saying the report must come to council,” Mdyolo said.
He was referring to a mass action protest by Samwu workers in the BCM who allegedly petrol-bombed part of the city hall.
Samwu could not be reached for comment at time of writing.
Yesterday, a handful of Samwu members protested outside the Abbotsford Christian Centre against the secondment of BCM officials who were given huge pay increases. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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