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Both the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and Solidarity have expressed concern at Statistics SA’s latest findings that there are more than 41, 000 vacant posts at municipalities countrywide.
Samwu’s Simon Mathe said: “We are not surprised, but concerned, that municipal vacancies remain at such alarming and unacceptable levels. We are further worried that these high levels would definitely affect the quality and quantity of services that municipalities are rendering.” In his view, suitable and qualified people were available to render services, yet municipalities “plead poverty.” He called on municipalities to fill vacancies as a matter of urgency. Solidarity’s Dr Eugene Brink was of the opinion that, in view of the vacancy figures, government should abolish non-essential jobs and services in order to give priority to fill key positions. “Government should do a thorough survey of its current skilled corps to determine which skills are superfluous, and where skills shortages are being experienced. As part of the process, preference should be given to the filling of technical and financial jobs in particular to improve service delivery and to curb the increasing problem of corruption and misappropriation of funds,” Brink said.
- Read a report on Samwu’s position at The Citizen
- Read Solidarity’s press statement at Solidarity online
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page