The Blue Drop report is essentially a national assessment of our drinking water quality and involves an audit of 153 local, district and metropolitan municipalities with a total of 931 water systems. Blue Drop status is awarded to a municipality that achieves 95% or above for drinking water quality.

“We are very proud of the efforts of our members and note that the three top water quality scorers were all in the Gauteng region, namely Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, the City of Johannesburg and Mogale City Local Municipality, all receiving over 98% The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, the City of Cape Town, the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Mogale City (Gauteng), Tlokwe (North West), Bitou (Western Cape), Witzenberg (Western Cape), Randfontein (Gauteng), George (Western Cape) and, Steve Tshwete (Mpumalanga) also received phenomenal results,” stated IMATU General Secretary, Johan Koen.

IMATU is encouraged by the marked improvement in South Africa’s water quality, it believes that this excellence in drinking water quality management must be implemented and realised in all municipalities.  

“IMATU strongly believes that all South Africans should have access to clean, quality drinking water and there are still a number of municipalities that must be improved. The 2012 Blue Drop Report is an example of where all aspects of local government are working together for you,” concluded Koen.

IMATU will closely study the Auditor General’s local government reports when released to ascertain whether its concerns and suggestions detailed in a recent meeting with the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr Richard Baloyi have been noted and addressed.

IMATU met with the Minister Baloyi late last year to detail the challenges faced by its members as well as re-committing to better service delivery for all. IMATU leaders outlined concerns regarding the erosion of municipal services through privatization, increasing trends of employment casualization, infrastructure failures in municipalities as well as the dire need to eradicate nepotism, fraud, corruption and other criminal activities in and around the municipal structures.

“IMATU is committed to working towards achieving an efficient and sustainable service delivery model at local government level, however the commitment of our members on the ground must be matched by decisive implementation and political will at the top,” stated IMATU General Secretary,” Johan Koen.

IMATU’s National President, Stanley Khoza, was accompanied by IMATU’s Deputy President, Keith Swanepoel, IMATU’s Vice President: Labour Relations, Ronald Veerapen, the General Secretary of IMATU, Johan Koen and the Deputy General Secretary: Legal, Craig Adams.

IMATU raised various matters of concern in the municipal industry, with the Minister and his delegation.

The future status of the Provinces and District Municipalities, the erosion of municipal services through privatization, the transfer of municipal services to the other organs of state, the transfer of primary health care practitioners, the future of the Metro Police, inconsistency with fixed term contract appointments and the possible restructuring of electricity distribution were raised in the discussion.

Uncertainty amongst the municipal workforce about the government’s intentions regarding a single public service, was also addressed.

IMATU raised the trend of casualisation which occurs in all municipalities whereby temporary employees are employed by municipalities outside of the conditions of service applicable in the SALGBC, with the Minister.

Infrastructure failures in municipalities were also addressed, while emphasis was placed on the need for eradication of nepotism, fraud, corruption and other criminal activities in and around the municipal structures.

The Minister was also informed of the deteriorating relationship with the employers’ organisation, SALGA, and the effect that it has on collective bargaining in the industry. Specific mention was made of last year’s unsuccessful salary negotiations that took place under the jurisdiction of the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC).

The Minister amicably addressed some of the matters that IMATU presented, ensuring his department’s commitment to partner with IMATU, and his intention to deal with the concerns and problems in a consultative manner.

He referred to the “regrettable and sorry state of affairs” of service delivery in the country and asked that partners such as IMATU should not lament on “run down services”, but instead assist the department with determining who or what is responsible for the deterioration.

‘’Run down services are not the same as services that are poorly delivered”, he said.

“Immediate intervention in instances where service levels deteriorated, can repair the systems”, he said.

He referred to the government’s discussion regarding the introduction of a Single Public Service. He ensured the delegation that government had no intention to disband local government as a third tier of governance. He said that “the Single Public Service debate does not exist anymore…Public Service Management is the debate now”.

Discussions involving the provisions of the Public Administration Management Bill are currently underway, and the government has intentions to amend the Public Service Act in line with the Municipal Structures Act, which may mean that employees of all tiers of government may be inter-transferrable.

He also expressed his personal preference to have District Municipalities’ capacity strengthened and “to do away with traditional municipalities”.

On the issue of privatisation, the Minster was adamant regarding the utilisation of municipal competency instead of the outsourcing of skills and services.

He also promised to look into the Extended Public Works Programme and the effects that it has on municipal service delivery. 

Minister Baloyi was concerned about the deterioration of the trust relationship between IMATU and SALGA, and he promised IMATU’s delegation speedy intervention by his department.

IMATU was applauded for its “Start Working” campaign which was launched earlier in the Eastern Cape. “Count on us to become your partner with this National initiative”, he said.

Both the Minister’s and IMATU’s delegation expressed their satisfaction with the initial meeting of the parties, and mutual assurances were given of the parties’ intent to commit to excellent co-operative local governance.

IMATU will continue with bi-lateral discussions over the next two weeks with SALGA and other role players in the sector.  Should these bi-lateral discussions not have the desired effect IMATU will consider other mechanisms to resolve the dispute which could include a referral to interest arbitration.

“We revised our demand to 10% but the employer has still refused to submit a fair increase”, said IMATU’s General Secretary Johan Koen on Wednesday.

“The unresolved dispute with the employer’s organisation does not contribute to a stable employment relationship, something that municipalities hardly can afford”, said Koen.

“…the march which attracted about 2000 participants went off reasonably well and a signed copy of the attached strike memorandum tailored to suit our Region, was handed over to the eThekwini Deputy Mayor at the “closing ceremony”.” Dave Rodgers Regional Manager of the eThekwini/KZN Region after yesterday’s successful mass action in the city.

Today sees the members of IMATU taking to the streets of Cape Town.

They will deliver the following memorandum to the municiaplity:

“IMATU submits that SALGA’s arrogance in the negotiating process is the direct result of the wage and salary deadlock and subsequent strike action.

IMATU members are in general reluctant to revert to industrial action; it is always reserved as the last resort.

The SALGBC attempted a bona fide mediation process over the last two days but instead, SALGA has not contributed to settle the dispute. IMATU has made a significant adaption by lowering our demand from 18% to 10%.  IMATU requested SALGA to submit a better offer than the 6, 08%, which we were willing to take to our members in an attempt to settle the matter and in so, act in the interest of all.

SALGA ignored our proposal.

Cape Town City is currently advertising the City Manager post for R1.5 million rand per annum and approved salary increases of more than 7% to its Councillors.  “Affordability” is obviously not a problem for this employer.

 Currently, food inflation is well over 8% of CPI and viewed together with the rise in municipal fees and exuberant increases in fuel prices, our willingness to lower our demand can be justified and is more than realistic.

 Our members have always rendered municipal services whilst other unions have taken to the streets. They have now lost their patience and they are voicing their dismay with the irresponsible actions of SALGA. IMATU will however never revert to violence and irresponsibility during strike action.

 IMATU members, whilst exercising their constitutional right to strike, appeals to the community of the City of Cape Town to demand responsibility from their Councillors and the municipal employers’ organisation SALGA, to return to the negotiating table with a sensible and fair wage and salary offer.”

Today, 19 August 2011 sees the commencement of industrial action by members of IMATU, country wide.

IMATU members will start to participate in various forms of industrial action all over South Africa in order to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with Salga’s ignorance and unilateral action during salary and wage negotiations.

IMATU served notice of its intention to begin with industrial action last week and rolling mass action is planned for the next week.

Marches will take place in the eThekwini metro, Cape Town metro and in other metros,towns and cities around the country next week.

Salga has unilaterally implemented 6,08%  in municipalities and walked away from the negotiation table.

IMATU’s salary and wage demand for 18% or R 2000.00 accross the board was ignored and no further negotiation with Salga has taken place.

In the meantime, Salga has not shown any interest to return to the negotiation table.

The strike action will continue indefinitely and members are encouraged to take part in the organised mass action in all Regions.

Members must contact their local shop steward or Regional office if they require further information regarding the national strike action.

The wage dispute deadlocked on 2 August 2011 when the trade unions and the employer rejected a settlement proposal made by the conciliator.

IMATU’s leadership is currently in consultation with its membership, Regional and National structures to determine the way forward.

“At this stage a strike cannot be ruled out”, said IMATU’s General Secretary, Johan Koen.

“IMATU does not take decisions to strike lightly”, said IMATU’s President, Stanley Khoza.  Khoza re-iterated that a final decision on IMATU’s intended action will be taken during the next few days.

SALGA is offering an across the board increase of 6,08%.  “This offer is seen as an insult to workers, considering wage settlements reached in other sectors and the increases in the price of electricity, fuel, etc”, said Koen. 

We wish him all the best for the day and the rest of the year and we pray for his continued good health.

Mandela Day – launched in 2009 – to remember Mandela’s contribution to the creation of a democratic South Africa calls on people to donate 67 minutes of their time to help those in need.

In honour of the day, we have put together some reasons to love South Africa. Here they are, in more or less alphabetical order, and in our own, idiomatic words:

Afrikaans – no way your swear words would have the same impact if they were said in English!

Apartheid Museum

Barefoot kids playing rugby as if they were already Springboks

Being able to see the Big 7 – the usual plus great whites and whales – within a few hours of each other in the Eastern Cape

Biltong

Blue Bulls – What a team man! Okay, okay and the rest of the rugby teams!

Braais

Camping at Christmas … or camping in general

Cape Town International jazz festival

Cheap steak and great red wine

Cocktails on Clifton Beach

Curry bunny chow

Durban Poison: world famous

Eastern Cape beaches

Fordsburg and a growing number of China Mall’s – you can get anything “cheap, cheap”

Fresh produce…at Bangladesh market in Chatsworth you can buy a live chicken – and watch them slaughter it…ewwww!

Gautrain!

Getting a seat on a crowded Metrorail train

Giraffes – just because they’re so cool

Horse-drawn carts

Johannesburg’s purple sunsets (probably because of the pollution)

Jozi’s leafy suburbs… Did you know that Joburg is the city with the most trees in the world?

Kennetjie – the kids’ game

Kirstenbosch concerts

Koeksisters and coffee on a Sunday morning

Light on the mountains in Cape Town.

Marabaraba-is it still played?

Missing front teeth and all the jokes about them

Mopani worms

Mrs Balls Chutney

Namaqualand’s flower carpet

Nando’s

Nelson Mandela-who else!

Ouma rusks and Koffiehuis coffee

Our cultural diversity

Our diehard faith in the various national sporting teams

Our eleven official languages

Our good-looking guys!

Our beautiful girls!

Our one-of-a-kind national flag

Our pragmatism as a people

Partying in Melville rocks and the pizza at 6am at Catz Pyjamas is the perfect way to end the evening

Polony…thickly sliced

Pretoria’s jacarandas

Pap/iphalishi

Reading the Sunday papers and smelling the neighbourhood braais

Red rocks in the Golden Gate national park at sunset

Riding along the Garden Route

Rollers and overalls in shopping centres.

Shad season: was featured on the Discovery Channel…how awesome is that!?

Shaka Zulu: need we say more?

Shebeens and Zamalek

Shosholoza – the one song almost every South African manages to sing with immense pride… but completely wrong.

Simpiwe Tsabalala’s goal in the World Cup opener – forever and ever amen the best moment in SA sports history.

Singing the national anthem before the games… *proud much?

Slap chips and chip rolls

Spur restaurants

Stepping off a plane in Pee-Eee and hearing somebody say “yoh! yoh! yoh!”

Summer on the Highveld – just perfect!

Sunshine!

Taxis…you’ll hear the bass music coming – and chaotic taxi ranks, but somehow you get where you need to be

The fact that no matter how politically far apart South Africans may be, when the music starts there are always some who’ll start dancing

The fact that our fuel stations are not self service and that the attendants are always so cheerful

The false dusk caused by a looming storm and the smell of the first big drops of rain hitting the pavement

The smell of roasting mielies when you walk down the Joburg CBD’s streets

The view from Northcliff hill – the city looks gorgeous

The view from the Union Buildings in Pretoria

The way we murder our vowels

Those tiny flowers in the Karoo that you don’t see until you really look for them

Walking along Sea Point promenade

Watching the sun set on Chapman’s Peak

WIMPY! – oooooo lekker breakfast

Winter in Durban: board shorts and flip flops… jealous much?

Zamalek…again!

Have you asked yourself the following questions;

• Why do the members of IMATU act and look so self-assured in the workplace?
• What is it that IMATU has and which I am so desperately missing with my current union?
• Why do I feel deserted by my current union’s representatives?
• Why do IMATU’s members have crucial workplace information long before the employer and my current union does?
• Why am I being threatened over my political affiliation when I discuss workplace matters with my current union’s shop stewards?
• Why did I not complete the IMATU membership form last month?
• Why did some municipal unions increase its subscription by more than 30% recently? 

Perhaps you are one of those employees who still roam the employment wilderness and believe that trade union membership of IMATU is a waste of money?

IMATU has been a household name in the South African local government industry and in the trade union environment since 1996 and we have established a legacy to be proud of.

Some 70 000 members of IMATU, employed by local government have reaped individual and collective benefits that has changed their workplace increasingly for the better.

Each member of IMATU enjoys the protection that the South African Constitution provides, with specific reference to the right to fair labour practices the right to freedom of political association and the right to join a trade union, such as IMATU.

IMATU is managed by a group of dynamic, loyal and skilled shop stewards and staff.

We call on you- make the shift!

Come see it for yourself.

Join the union that offers a home for all this beautiful country’s rainbow people.

Join IMATU today- the union of choice in local government!