LOUIS TRICHARDT - Members of several branches of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) in Limpopo embarked on a protest march in Louis Trichardt on Friday (11/4) to protest against "sexual harassment and nepotism scandals," that is said to be rife at the Makhado Municipality.

In the memorandum handed over to the Makhado Municipality, it was indicated that the Municipal Manager, Mr Rueben Rambado "is not a Manager, but a Boss, who keeps on instilling fear and terror into the minds of workers who might have a different opinion than his. "Once you differ with him, you are immediately promised to be fired and it is for this reason that Samwu is always labelled as his number one enemy, because the trade Union is always fighting corruption and unfair labour practices," the statement reads.

Members of Samwu also demand that a certain municipal worker be dismissed with immediate effect, after he was found guilty of diesel theft.

"It is long overdue that the Municipal Manager is hiding and has apparently resolved not to try and resolve the reported cases of sexual harassment filed against one of his friends in the department of finance and LED."

In addition, Samwu members also allege that council improperly employs friends and relatives to senior authorities while temporary employees are removed, despite a mutual agreement once reached by both the trade union and the council to provide temporary employees with permanent posts.

Several other accusations involving the behaviour of senior municipal officials were also made in the memorandum.

The Samwu leadership also asked for a commission of inquiry to investigate the incidents of alleged corruption at the Makhado Municipality, together with the Premier of the Limpopo Province.

Samwu members started with their march from the Louis Trichardt Show grounds and proceeded along Songozwi Street chanting and carrying placards written "The manager is a sex maniac, Rambado and Tlakula must go and stay in the zoo, Muleya is an Impimpi".

The Municipal Manager, Mr Rueben Rambado told our reporter that the issue will be discussed during the next meeting of the Makhado Municipal Council on April 29, and that he will react after the discussion in council.