Kimberley, Northern Cape — The South African Municipal Workers’ Union in the Northern Cape has confirmed the permanent appointment of 497 contract workers at the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality following years of sustained labour pressure and a recent five-day protest action.
The development marks what union leaders have described as a historic breakthrough in the long-running dispute over the municipality’s reliance on fixed-term contracts. During a ceremony held this week, management handed over the first 125 permanent appointment letters in sealed envelopes to union representatives as part of the first phase of implementation under a Local Labour Forum resolution.
According to the union, many of the affected workers have been employed by the municipality since 2013 without access to key employment benefits such as pension contributions, medical aid or annual bonuses. SAMWU says the permanency decision ends what it describes as more than a decade of precarious employment for hundreds of workers.
Union leaders acknowledged that while the milestone is being celebrated, some workers did not live to see the outcome of the struggle. Others are reportedly nearing retirement after spending most of their working lives on temporary contracts.
SAMWU Northern Cape stated that the turning point came after a militant five-day protest, which it says compelled municipal management to address the long-standing matter. Workers reportedly gathered at the municipality in scenes described as emotional, with many expressing relief at finally securing job security.
At its recent 13th Provincial Congress, SAMWU Northern Cape committed to intensifying its campaign against what it calls the abuse of contract labour in municipalities. The union referenced Section 198B of the Labour Relations Act, which regulates the use of fixed-term contracts and seeks to prevent indefinite temporary employment.
While welcoming the first phase of implementation, SAMWU said it will continue monitoring the process until all 497 workers have formally transitioned into permanent positions.
Anyone with additional information relating to this story can contact us through email press@townpress.co.za.
Facebook Comments