The Mercury reports that in an attempt to kick-start service, the Newcastle Municipality has announced the filing of over 100 posts that have been vacant for more than 18 months after the municipality dismissed the workers.

In 2019, the municipality sacked 223 workers – mostly from the community services department – after a violent dispute over unpaid overtime. The fired workers took the matter to the Labour Court in a bid to reverse the municipality’s decision. Due to Covid-19 regulations, the matter has been dragging for months, leaving the municipality battling with poor service delivery. One of the workers said they were disappointed that the municipality had decided to replace them while the appeal process was ongoing. “If the workers win the case and the court orders that we be reinstated, it will be a mess. This means that the municipality will have to pay for two employees occupying one post. We understand that service delivery is bad since they dismissed workers, and I understand their frustration. However, this will backfire,” he opined. Municipal manager Vish Govender confirmed the appointment of the workers, saying the new staff had already started with their duties. He indicated that many of the appointed staff had been acting since the dismissal of the previous workers. Govender said if the dismissed workers won the case and were reinstated, the municipality would have no option but to comply with the ruling. But he added: “I cannot wait for the court case to be concluded as that can take up to five years. In the meantime, how do I collect waste and cut the grass? How do I provide fire and traffic services?”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sakhiseni Nxumalo at The Mercury

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