Some of the most pertinent issues raised against Nkosinjani Speelman is that workers have stated that their provident funds, medical aids and other policies that the municipality is deducting from their salaries have not been paid over to these third-party agencies for months, causing many of these policies to lapse. Samwu's local secretary, Welcome Makhobotloane, said it was unacceptable that workers at the municipality had deductions the municipality did not pay over. Furthermore, the staff members do not have a fleet of vehicles to conduct their duties with and would have received protective clothing and those working odd hours would have security services. Yet the mayor could take money to spend on himself in the midst of a looming crisis. 

OFM News’ journalist Pulane Choane spoke to Speelman who did not deny claims made by the workers with regards to their third-party payments lapsing and not being paid over. The Matjhabeng mayor, in fact, admitted to OFM News that the municipality is facing a financial crisis as it cannot pay the third party agents it is said to be owing money to. He said these agents would only be paid once the money was available to pay these third-party agents. Speelman is currently in Cape Town and said he would return to Welkom on Thursday to address the worker issues.

He condemned the trashing of municipal offices, saying damaging the municipality’s property was not going to solve anything. Meanwhile, OFM News has received reports of burning tyres in the Welkom City Centre following a shutdown of services that the workers have since yesterday embarked on.

OFM News