Emfuleni Mayor Sipho Radebe.
- The embattled local municipality of Emfuleni will not pay salaries for the month of January.
- On Wednesday, councilors and officials were officially informed of the decision.
- Taking out their anger at the decision, the officials allegedly broke into the council chambers and damaged everything they could get their hands on.
Emfuleni local councilors and officials have been officially informed that no salaries will be paid for January, the political parties claimed.
Chaos reportedly broke out in the council chambers on Wednesday when the announcement was made.
According to FF Plus councillor, Gerda Senekal, Mayor Sipho Radebe was absent when the announcement was made.
In a statement, he said officials stormed the council chambers, turned around and damaged everything they could get their hands on.
“The non-payment of wages is a direct consequence of Emfuleni’s dire financial situation. Services basically cannot be provided after the court granted Eskom a garnishment order against Emfuleni.
“Emfuleni’s current bank account was frozen soon after and Eskom appears determined to execute the court order.”
READ | Emfuleni staff paid after Eskom returned municipality’s bank account
As a result of Eskom’s action, no contractors or bulk service providers, such as Rand Water, were paid.
“Even the intervention of Gauteng Prime Minister Panyaza Lesufi last week made no difference. Since the embargo order was issued, 80% of Emfuleni civil servants did not show up for work because there is no money to buy spare parts. or fuel for municipal vehicles”, Senekal. reclaimed.
Last month, News24 reported that employees received late December salary payments after Eskom seized the municipality’s assets.
The power utility obtained an injunction from the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in November, allowing it to seize R1.3 billion worth of municipality assets.
Senekal said FF Plus had warned for years that Emfuleni’s mismanagement would end in disaster.
“The only way to save Emfuleni from total ruin is a new government that has the best interests of the residents in mind and possesses the political will and ability to change the municipality. Emfuleni residents must not be punished for more time and they deserve better than the [current incumbent] ANC,” he added.
READ | Eskom received an order to seize R1.3bn of Emfuleni’s assets for ‘failure’ to pay debt
DA MP Dennis Ryder, who is also the party’s regional Vaal chairman, said: “However, blame for the deadlock cannot be laid on Eskom, who have patiently been making payment arrangements for amounts owed to them. despite repeated failures. by Emfuleni to adhere to their promised payment arrangements.
“It was only a matter of time before Eskom’s patience ran out.”
According to Ryder, the municipality was bankrupt and had no financial means to meet its constitutional obligations.
“This was demonstrated by the Emfuleni Fire Department’s response to a burning house in Unitaspark.
“When assistance was requested, the Emfuleni Fire Department was unable to respond as their vehicle was out of diesel. The fire department of the neighboring Midvaal municipality responded to the emergency, clearly showing the DA difference,” he said.
Repeated attempts to contact the municipality and the mayor’s office failed.
The municipality’s comment will be added once received.
