KSD in panic mode – calls in costly security
Despite flak, municipality brings in men with guns and their dogs
Besieged King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality has surrounded itself with four private security companies equipped with firearms and using dogs, and there appears to be no idea of what the final bill will be.
Mthatha is feeling the full brunt of a two-week municipal strike.
The city is groaning under heaps of rubbish hurled onto the streets by strikers and from rubbish not being collected across the municipality.
Unions claimed that the money to be paid out to the security companies could possibly run into the millions.
Municipal assets and buildings in Mthatha and Mqanduli are being guarded by Tyeks Security Services, Xhobani Security Services, Phiko Security Services and Ninja Protection and Security Services.
Payment of rates and the registration of new cars have also slowed down or have stopped altogether.
KSD municipal spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza confirmed that the decision to hire the heavy security had been made by mayor Dumani Zozo and his executive.
He would not say how much had been set aside for payment to the companies.
Mampoza said: “The security companies will be used until the strike is over. They are being used to safeguard municipal buildings and assets in Mthatha and Mqanduli.
“The costs charged by the security companies differ but our finance and public safety departments were given the task of sorting it all out.”
About a dozen heavily armed security guards, accompanied by dogs, are guarding the reception area and every floor of the Munitata Building.
Mampoza said: “The strike started on Monday last week and there was a decision taken at a special mayoral committee meeting to have private security companies to look after the interests of the municipality.
“There was an urgent need for their services and we cannot give you a number at the moment. Once the strike is over we will be able to tally up all the costs and let you know.”
Samwu chairperson in KSD, Lwazi Madyibi, said they found it strange that the municipality felt the need to hire the services of private security companies."Last year we had about four strikes and no municipal property was damaged. So why would they suddenly feel the need to hire private security companies?"I am sure that they bent every rule in the book in order to get those security companies and as such, after the strike is over we will demand that this is investigated.“I have it on good authority that one of those security company was given an advance of R1.5m but I am not at liberty to tell you which one," Madyibi said.Imatu deputy chair in KSD, Anam Mkile, said it was unacceptable that the municipality would spend so much money on security companies."The employer said they did not have money to pay the workers or to hire more, but now they have money to spend on private security companies. Where did the money suddenly come from? We are not happy about that," Mkile said.On Thursday, the KSD Stakeholders Forum held a press conference where they said all the problems in Mthatha were directly linked to Zozo's "weak, reactionary, divisive and vindictive" leadership style."As stakeholders we have no option but to seek intervention from [co-operative governance and traditional affairs] MEC Fikile Xasa to put the municipality under administration.“On the sideline we also want to withhold municipal rates and pay them into a trust account to hit them where it hurts the most. In addition, we will open a case of fraud, corruption and money laundering against Zozo," said forum chairperson Pasika Nontshiza.Mampoza said ratepayers could pay directly into KSD’s FNB account number which was posted at the entrances of the municipal buildings...
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