The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in Limpopo did not beat around the bush in a report about local municipalities.

This report, “detailing the gloomy state of municipalities and the tripartite alliance in the province”, was released by SAMWU’s provincial secretary, Mr Simon Mathe, last Friday. Eleven municipalities across the Limpopo Province were labelled as “rotten.”

According to the report, SAMWU has come to the realisation that corruption is rife in various municipalities. “It seems that corruption is normal in our municipalities,” said Mathe.

Details of the “shenanigans” that take place behind the closed doors of the Blouberg, Fetakgomo, Aganang, Mopani, Mole-Mole, Polokwane, Musina, Bela-Bela, Vhembe and Greater Giyani Municipality were highlighted in the report. 

As far as the Musina Municipality was concerned, SAMWU could not hide their excitement regarding the recent resignation of the municipal manger, Mr Abram Luruli. “We hope that he will never find any space in any municipality or provincial department,” said Mathe. “This is one person who should answer many questions. He must go well and we will never miss him.”

According to SAMWU, Luruli contributed a great deal towards the bad state of affairs at the Musina municipality.

When it came to the Vhembe District Municipality, the report was a bit on the vague side in terms of details. A major concern for SAMWU was, however, the fact that people are appointed in ghost positions. They claim that the municipality recently appointed a technical manager, even though the current organisational structure makes no provision for such a position within the municipality.  

Given all their concerns, SAMWU said that they were obliged to obtain legal advice. They have indicated intent to lay criminal charges against several politicians and officials from the various municipalities early in October. Municipalities that are implicated include Mopanie, Ba-Phalaborwa, Lephalale, Bela-Bela, Sekhukhune District, Greater Tzaneen, Blouberg and Makhado.