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Mail & Guardian
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Despite an internal investigation finding a senior manager guilty of sexual misconduct, they remain employed by the municipality and continue to receive a salary. Graphic: John McCann
CITY INTEGRITY AND INVESTIGATIONS UNIT

EThekwini metro accused of protecting senior official facing sexual harassment allegations

The alleged victim has had to be hospitalised and receive trauma counselling several times over the ordeal, internal sources said

  • Sandile Motha
4 min read
(Graphic: John McCann)
CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS

Whistleblower: uMzumbe municipal official ‘parachuted’ to senior eThekwini post

The transfer allegedly took place without following due process

  • Sandile Motha
4 min read
DA leader in Gauteng Solly Msimanga. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ACTIONSA

Msimanga: Moya a ribbon cutter who takes glory for DA’s work

The Democratic Alliance leader in Gauteng said most of the work the ActionSA mayor for Tshwane has been taking credit for was done by her predecessor, Cilliers Brink

  • Lunga Mzangwe
6 min read
ANC Greater Johannesburg regional powerhouse Eunice Mgcina has nominated Dada Morero (above) for the position of regional chairperson ahead of the much-anticipated elective conference set to take place in September. Photo: X
ANC GREATER JOHANNESBURG

Johannesburg mayor Morero warns contenders for ANC regional posts not to sabotage his government

Dada Morero has said he will stand for a second term as the Greater Joburg chair

  • Lunga Mzangwe
6 min read
Essential: Although trade unions no longer occupy the same status they did during apartheid, they remain vital for vulnerable workers. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
AMCU

Are unions still relevant? Yes, they gave us our dignity, say workers

Labour relations reached a crossroads with the Marikana Massacre, raising questions about the relevance and power of unions post-apartheid

  • Nkateko Joseph Mabasa
6 min read
Democratic Alliance mayor Cilliers Brink was removed through a vote of no confidence brought by the ANC and supported by ActionSA. (Frennie Shivambu/Gallo Images)
ACTIONSA

Workers celebrate as Cilliers Brink is ousted as Tshwane mayor

The city has 14 days to elect a new mayor

  • Lunga Mzangwe
3 min read
The waste management company’s services are not operational in 10 of the 12 depots around Johannesburg because of protest action
ACTION SA

Trade union accuses ActionSA of inciting striking Pikitup workers

The waste management company’s services are not operational in 10 of the 12 depots around Johannesburg because of protest action This content is restricted to registered users…

  • Umamah Bakharia
1 min read
Victims of the VBS Mutual Bank (VBS) scandal who lost their life savings say it is ironic that Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members are demanding the return of “stolen” land while failing to pay back the money they allegedly received unlawfully from the bank.
CILLIERS BRINK

Samwu: Manager implicated in VBS scandal tried car fleet scam in new municipality

The union fears that municipal manager Morris Maluleke, who ‘irregularly’ deposited R50-million of municipal funds into VBS Mutual Bank, continued to try to loot a Limpopo…

  • Khaya Koko
6 min read
Criticised: Council of Medical Schemes registrar Sipho Kabane
COUNCIL FOR MEDICAL SCHEMES

War of words over declined medical aid merger

Sizwe Medical Fund has taken a swipe at the Council for Medical Schemes for declining its merger with Hosmed

  • Thanduxolo Jika
3 min read
The union demanded the city transfer the money back to Samwu when its members protested outside the Johannesburg metro centre council chambers in a show of their frustration with the city. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CITY OF JO BURG

‘Jo’burg uses our fees for slush fund’

The city says it will investigate the missing millions claim by the municipal workers’ union

  • Sarah Smit
5 min read
The union demanded the city transfer the money back to Samwu when its members protested outside the Johannesburg metro centre council chambers in a show of their frustration with the city. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BUS STRIKE

Samwu shows its local-government muscle

The union’s financial and governance woes have not blunted the tools it has to paralyse municipalities, such as going on strike

  • Sarah Smit
3 min read
Turnaround strategy: Koena Ramotlou was elected as Samwu’s general secretary in April and is working on a process of ‘rebuilding, renewal and unity’ at the union. (Paul Botes/ M&G)
COSATU

Samwu extends an olive branch

The municipal workers union has reached out to splinter unions, but they do not seem to be biting

  • Sarah Smit
6 min read
Recent amendments to the Labour Relations Act help ensure that labour registrar Lehlohonolo Molefe can do his job without interference. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
LABOUR

Registrar gets tough on unions

The newly empowered labour registrar has warned more than half of all unions that they are in danger of being deregistered

  • Sarah Smit
7 min read
A forensic report has found that R88-million was looted from the municipal workers’ union, Samwu, between 2012 and 2015. (Cornel van Heerden/Beeld/Gallo Images)
CORRUPTION

SA’s biggest municipal union must restore trust after graft report

The report paints a bleak picture of Samwu’s internal systems and ability to handle its 160 000 members’ money

  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
The strike fund reserves are now depleted, however it is alleged that not all the Samwu branches and members have received their pre-approved payouts. (David Harrison/M&G)
ERNST AMP YOUNG

Samwu’s strike fund used to buy t-shirts — report

The union has been plagued by persistent allegations of financial mismanagement by its leaders

  • Sarah Smit
5 min read
The union demanded the city transfer the money back to Samwu when its members protested outside the Johannesburg metro centre council chambers in a show of their frustration with the city. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Battered Samwu again at odds

After allegations about maladministration, union leaders are now accused of not coming clean about corruption

  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
Harrismith’s streets are potholed, filled with refuse and illegal electricity connections are evident but more worrying are the power and water cuts. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ANC

Maluti-a-Phofung awaits court decision on Eskom cuts

Eskom has threatened power cuts for unpaid bills amounting to almost R3-billion, bills unpaid since 2011

  • Kwanele Sosibo
4 min read
According to a presentation by Prasa made to Parliament last week, manual train authorisations increased by more than 276% between January and August this year (Gallo)
COSATU

‘We will not be pushed out of Cosatu’ – Samwu

The union’s general secretary slammed ‘fallacious’ allegations of financial unaccountability

  • Sarah Smit
2 min read
The gold-mining industry caved and reached a settlement in a 12-year case brought by claimants over hazardous work conditions that cause silicosis and silico-tuberculosis.
SAMWU

Samwu’s term of office extension faces opposition from members

Members of the trade union intend to challenge the amendment of the union’s constitution to extend the term of office for leaders

  • Amanda Khoza News24
4 min read
“The transition means more decentralised distribution systems for electricity
ANC

Metsimaholo will be a measure of the ANC’s problems

It could be a wake-up call for a party distracted by power struggles over its next group of leaders

  • Vukani Mde
  • Amy Musgrave
6 min read