Residents of the Kutama area, who are affiliated to the Community Work Programme at Madabani stadium, eventually received their monies from the Seriti Institute last week.

This came after the national poverty-alleviating organisation, Seriti Institute, had reportedly failed to pay about 90 affiliated workers for several months. "Some of the workers got all their outstanding monies, but there were others who got half their pay," said Ward 24's Cllr Motlatso Selepe. "But senior officials at Seriti Institute's offices in Johannesburg promised to finish paying all outstanding monies by Friday."

Workers were very angry a fortnight ago after Seriti Institute had failed to make payments into workers' accounts. The workers gathered at the desolate stadium to raise their concerns about monies which the organisation still owed them. "We will see that we take action, so that the district manager of Seriti Institute, (Medupi) Phalane, hears our voices," said one angry worker.

However, Cllr Selepe calmed down the angry workers and reminded them that he had since forwarded a letter of grievance and notification to the relevant stakeholders, who would then deal with the case.

When contacted, Seriti Institute's district manager, Mr Medupi Phalane, had no comment. However, the reporter then contacted the head office in Johannesburg, who subsequently liaised with Phalane. Some hours later, Phalane called to say he was ready to comment. “Co-ordinators didn't submit duty registers and that's why workers were not paid on time,” he said last Tuesday. “For those who haven't received all their wages or anything, they will get their monies once we have received the duty registers and bank statements."