The strike by municipal workers of the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality is causing significant service delivery disruptions in Naboomspruit (Mookgophong).
The strike stems from a wage dispute dating back to the merger of the Modimolle and Mookgophong Local Municipalities in 2016.
The former workers of the Mookgophong Municipality are striking and demanding that the salary disparities between them and the Modimolle municipal workers should be resolved before they return to work.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) believes the situation is a clear example of the ANC’s poor governance. The party also warned that the strike is detrimental to all Naboomspruit residents.
The Municipality is under additional pressure seeing as there are no funds in the current budget earmarked for making the salary adjustments demanded by the striking workers.
Moreover, there is uncertainty surrounding the appointment of an acting Municipal Manager to replace the former Municipal Manager, Mr Ben Thobela, who has been suspended pending an investigation into a loan he took out on behalf of the Municipality.
Limpopo’s MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Basikopo Makamu, refused to approve the appointment of Patrick Shika as acting Municipal Manager, as he does not meet the legal requirements for the position.
This means that the Municipality is currently not operating in compliance with the relevant legal requirements and any decisions taken by the Council could result in a negative outcome in the upcoming audit report by the Auditor-General (AG).
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