The Sunday Independent reported on Sunday that the West Rand District Municipality was still locked in a stalemate with the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) over non-payment to third parties of contributions in respect of employees.  

The municipality failed to contribute to workers’ medical aid and provident funds for three months after officials invested over R70-million in the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank.  Samwu regional secretary Siseko Siyothula observed that the VBS investment was none of their business and added:  “The employer should meet the workers’ demands, and we don’t care about the investment with VBS.”  Meanwhile, Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s spokesperson, Castro Ngobese, said a task team had been appointed to resolve the deadlock by convening meetings with all affected parties to present a framework to stabilise the municipality.  “The premier has appointed a team of MECs working closely with labour, district municipality and national government to find a solution to the challenges besieging the municipality.  Our broad objective is to make sure that all challenges are addressed in a very structured and systematic manner to avoid disruption of service delivery.  We are hopeful that a solution will be found very soon,” said Ngobese.

• Read the full original report by Manyane Manyane at The Sunday Independent

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page