Municipal waste management workers are concerned about their jobs and are calling on the City of Tshwane to cut ties with outsourced service providers.

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) led hundreds of waste workers to Tshwane House on Monday to voice their grievances to Mayor Solly Msimanga.

The workers claimed that despite being permanently employed by the City, they have had to share the responsibility with private service providers over the years.

Probe into claims of corruption

The workers further requested a probe into their claims that senior waste management department officials were accepting kickbacks. According to a report by the Independent Online they suggested the City fire the service providers to show it did not condone corruption and wasteful expenditure.

The union’s Mothwa Matlala told Independent Online that the City has been outsourcing waste management over the past couple of years.

“Waste collection has always been a big and integral part of municipal functions. The DA administration has intensified the outsourcing of waste management despite opposition from workers.”

We will fight for our jobs

Workers said they feared that the City intended to convert them into contract workers who would eventually work for the service providers.

They vowed to fight for their jobs and ensure that all contract workers hired by service providers were absorbed by the City.

The workers gave the City 14 days to respond to their memorandum, which was accepted by municipal manager Dr Moeketsi Mosola.

–IOL