“IMATU is ready for the challenges of the New Year and with these in mind, we welcome back to the workplace all members, shop stewards and staff of IMATU and everybody who is involved in the operations of our municipalities. The challenges are huge, but we are relying on our well-oiled operational system to address these opportunities to contribute positively to the administration of local government”, said IMATU’s National President, Stanley Khoza.
Late last year IMATU met with the newly appointed Minister of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. Richard Baloyi and his management team.
- 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,
- and 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. Minister Baloyi referred to the government’s discussion on the introduction of a Single Public Service. He assured 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”.
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 this year’s unsuccessful 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” regarding 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 have deteriorated, can repair the systems”, he said.
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”, Mr. Baloyi said.
“I am sure that our meeting with the Minister will reap fruit. Let us all make local government work effectively in 2012, it is now up to us”, said IMATU’s President.
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