Frustrated workers at the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West marched to the mayor’s office today, demanding answers over long-standing grievances they say have been ignored for five years.
The workers submitted a memorandum highlighting concerns over alleged non-compliance with labor laws, salary disparities, and questionable senior management appointments. Despite repeated attempts to resolve issues through internal channels, employees claim they have received no meaningful response.
Mayor Calls for Urgent Labor Forum Meeting
In response, Ngaka Modiri Molema Mayor Khumalo Molefe acknowledged the workers’ concerns but insisted that their demands should be addressed through the Local Labour Forum, a structured platform for employer-employee negotiations.
“As a former shop steward, I understand their frustrations,” said Molefe. “However, we are a constitutional democracy governed by labor laws. These issues must be properly ventilated in the Local Labour Forum.”
Molefe directed the municipal manager to convene an urgent meeting of the forum, allowing workers to formally present their grievances. He emphasized that any unresolved disputes should follow legal procedures rather than being debated in the “court of public opinion.”
Workers Skeptical of Promises
The workers, however, expressed skepticism, questioning how the municipality could resolve their concerns in seven days—the deadline given in their memorandum—when they had waited five years for action.
Among their key complaints is the alleged illegal adjustment of senior managers’ salaries, which they claim has created unfair pay disparities. Molefe defended the salary adjustments, stating that some senior managers had previously earned less than their subordinates due to job evaluation discrepancies, a situation the council rectified “within the law.”
Next Steps
With tensions high, both sides await the outcome of the upcoming Local Labour Forum meeting. Workers have warned of further action if their demands remain unmet, while the mayor has urged adherence to formal negotiation processes.
As the seven-day deadline looms, all eyes are on whether this long-standing dispute will finally see resolution—or if frustrated employees will escalate their protests.
