Note to Editors: Please find a soundbite from Kingsol Chabalala in English here
Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) has spent over R20 million on 19 public officials suspended and sitting at home, despite residents’ lack of basic services, including clean and safe drinking water.
This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mzi Khumalo, in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
MEC Khumalo disclosed that an employee suspended for 4 years, and 8 months has been paid R3 494 120, while another employee has earned R2 272 283.71 sitting at home for the same duration.
See the reply here.
This disclosure effectively reveals the shortcomings of the disciplinary management systems in Emfuleni. While the labour laws guarantee fair disciplinary hearings, the inability to resolve the 19 cases dating back to 2019 is unacceptable and demonstrates an incapable system that needs reform.
Prolonged suspensions hinder the provision of service delivery as the municipality must take on the added responsibilities of a suspended employee. Moreover, the money spent paying suspended officials could be directed towards employees actively contributing to ensuring that the struggling municipality delivers services promptly and effectively.
It is unjustifiable to expect ratepayers to foot the bill for suspended municipal officials, especially during such difficult economic times.
The DA demands that MEC Khumalo take immediate action and ensure that Emfuleni investigates and resolves the pending cases, as it is wasting the ratepayers’ money. Failure to do so will result in the DA referring the matter to the Public Service Commission.
A DA government will eradicate the pay-for-doing-nothing mindset that has been normalised in our municipalities. Investigations and hearings for disciplinary cases will be conducted promptly after the alleged misconduct or the employer’s knowledge of it.