Workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) have been ordered by the Labour Court not to disrupt operations at the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) and to refrain from continuing with what the court described as an unlawful strike.
The municipality approached the court over the ongoing dispute between the labour union and senior VDM officials. On Friday, 11 July, Judge Benita Witcher granted an interdict prohibiting SAMWU members from "directly or indirectly interfering with the water supply by the municipality in any of the communities within the area of jurisdiction of the municipality."
The interdict also bars union members from threatening any of the municipality's employees. "The members of the respondents are ordered not to threaten and/or block any person or employees of the municipality from entering the municipality's premises," the order reads.
The conflict between SAMWU members and the municipality's senior staff has been brewing for some time, centring on allegations of corruption levelled against the municipal manager, Zwannda Norman Kutama. SAMWU wants Kutama to step down or recuse himself while investigations into alleged irregularities in the awarding of tenders are carried out.
In a memorandum of grievances handed to the VDM, SAMWU alleges that Kutama has influenced procurement processes. The union also claims that the political leadership has failed to respond to its concerns. As a result, SAMWU has called on its members to embark on a go-slow strike.
On 18 June, SAMWU wrote to the Limpopo Treasury Department, requesting an investigation into how two tenders were awarded. "SAMWU has learned with great concern of the involvement of MaxProfSA and Latita Africa to render VAT collection services to Vhembe District Municipality," the letter reads.
According to the union, prescribed procurement procedures were not followed when awarding the tenders. SAMWU has requested all documentation relating to the appointments from the municipality and asked the provincial treasury department to investigate.
"Our municipal manager is always giving tenders without following the proper channels, and the community are still suffering without water. We are understaffed, yet we are expected to render services to the community which the municipality serves," said SAMWU spokesperson Mr Thilivhali Ramashidzha.
VDM acting spokesperson Moses Shivambu confirmed that the municipality had received the letter containing the allegations. He said internal investigators were still busy with the matter.
Ramashidzha added that SAMWU's lawyers were preparing to challenge the Labour Court interdict.