BDLive writes about fears that municipal mergers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will lead to large-scale job losses, demotions or loss of prestige and about the efforts of the provincial government to allay those concerns.  

In KZN, the Municipal Demarcation Board announced 37 changes to municipal boundaries, with the number of municipalities in the province going down from 61 to 54.  As new councils now get ready to convene for the first time, fears of job losses persist and have worsened, especially in areas with hung councils (seven).  But, KZN’s MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has spent the past few months crisscrossing the province to allay concerns.  Stakeholders — including the unions, municipal officials, traditional leaders and different communities — have been involved to ensure a smooth process.  Last year her department even appointed change management committees to oversee the delicate process of staff retention, along with the management of municipal properties, land, vehicles and related issues arising from mergers.  Yet there are apparently many people who have nonetheless raised issues about their working conditions, remuneration and other work-related issues.

• Read this interesting report by Nce Mkhize and Genevieve Quintal in full at BDLive
• See too, Job loss woes for Joburg council political support staff, at BDLive

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