IMATU CONDEMNS WASTED COSTS IN THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN
The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU),
representing approximately 107 000 members countrywide, and in excess of 14 000
members in the City of Cape Town, wholeheartedly supports the view of the
Auditor General, as quoted in an article by the Cape Argus on 4 February 2020,
wherein it was stated that “The
AG also flagged the appointment of law firms representing the City. The
report said the approval to procure legal services was granted to the legal
department by means of a council system of delegations that was not in line
with the regulations“.
Notwithstanding a formal collective agreement relating to internal disciplinary
matters which excludes the appointment of external legal representation, except
in very limited and specific cases, the City persists in appointing external
legal practitioners to prosecute its staff, and to preside over these
hearings. IMATU has been successful in an arbitration wherein it was
ruled that the employer (the City) was not permitted to utilise the services of
external legal practitioners. Albeit that the City has taken this award
on review, it persists in spending ratepayers’ money on the appointment of
external legal practitioners across the board. These hearings are
extended over long periods which result in huge legal bills for the City.
This takes place despite the fact that the City has its own Legal Department
which comprises many qualified and expert legal employees, and similarly, the
City has specialised labour relations and human resources departments with a
more than adequate staff complement. These very employees, however, are
simply not utilised for internal disciplinary matters despite being fully equipped
to do so.
“These actions by the City result in wasted costs, to the detriment of the
ratepayer, and need to be ceased with immediate effect”, stated Etienne
Bruwer, IMATU’s Regional Manager in the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape
Region.