We Need Fair Training and Performance Bonuses for All Drakenstein Workers

GOOD Statement by Doreen Carolissen, GOOD Drakenstein Municipality Councillor:

The GOOD Party in Drakenstein has raised serious concerns regarding the Municipality’s “Minimum Competency Levels” (MMC) report, which continues to favour high-level senior managers while excluding the hard-working general staff, clerks, and cleaners from professional growth and performance rewards.

GOOD Councillor Doreen Carolissen highlights a glaring disparity: while senior managers are provided with clear paths to attain competencies that trigger performance bonuses, the rank-and-file workers who keep the municipality running are being left behind.

“We see a top-heavy system where those at the peak are given every opportunity to succeed, while our general workers and cleaners are effectively barred from the same benefits,” said Carolissen. “These are the people on the ground every day, yet there is no clear policy to train them to achieve competency at their respective task levels.”

GOOD is demanding answers on three key points:

1. The Policy Gap: Why is there no documented competency framework for general employees, senior clerks, and manual labourers to help them reach their required task levels?

2. Bonus Inequality: Why are performance bonuses seemingly reserved for the top tier, while the workers reporting to them are denied the training necessary to qualify for similar incentives?

3. Labour Fairness: The current exclusion of lower-level staff from these opportunities borders on “unfair labour practice” as defined by Schedule 8 of the Labour Relations Act.

The Western Cape prides itself on being “well-run,” but a municipality cannot be considered successful if it discriminates against its own workforce. Performance and progress should not be a luxury reserved for those in the highest offices.

GOOD calls on the Drakenstein Council to immediately review its training and development policies to ensure that every employee, from the cleaner to the Municipal Manager, has a fair and transparent path to professional competency and the rewards that come with it.

GOOD Healthcare Access: GOOD supports initiatives to improve access to healthcare in rural areas.

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