Samwu stalling municipal act - DA
2012-10-23 22:38
Cape Town - The SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) is delaying a law governing the appointment of senior municipal officials, the DA said on Tuesday.
Deadlines for regulations, which were meant to give effect to the Municipal Systems Act, had been pushed back twice this year, Democratic Alliance MP John Steenhuisen said in a statement.
"A briefing by the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs to the parliamentary portfolio committee today revealed that negotiations with Samwu are delaying the implementation of legislation aimed at regulating the appointment of senior municipal officials."
Samwu was objecting to the constitutionality of the act, which gives Co-operative Governance Minister Richard Baloyi the power to set aside decisions made in the bargaining chamber.
The act was meant to bar municipal officials from holding senior positions in political parties.
It also set strict requirements in terms of skills, education and experience for municipal managers and other senior officials.
"The act was assented to by President Zuma on 5 July 2011, but the process of finalising the regulations is proving hugely problematic," said Steenhuisen.
He said the lack of implementing regulations resulted in governance in municipalities being compromised by endless negotiations to please the union.
"The department should not allow Samwu to hold clean and effective service delivery hostage any longer," he said.
- SAPA
