Court docket orders uMkhanyakude District municipality to pay staff – SABC Information

The Pietermaritzburg High Court  has ordered that more than five hundred workers  be paid their salaries for July following the uMkhanyakude district municipality office workers who are striking after the municipality was put under administration

SAMWU’s provincial organiser Menzi Luthuli  has welcomed the order that the workers be paid before the 5th of August.

“We are happy with the court judgment and it means a lot to the workers. This was a challenge that needed an urgent intervention from the municipality and also SAMWU so that workers an enjoy their benefits.”

VIDEO | UMkhanyakude District Municipal workers want their salaries

The district municipality has argued in the  High Court that it had addressed all the concerns raised by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance for placing the district under administration in July.

The district is applying for Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi’s intervention and appointment of an administrator to be set aside.

The municipality is arguing that Buthelezi did not follow prescribed processes and that the intention was illegal. Representing the district municipality, Advocate Indhrasen Pillay  told the court that the intervention was prompted by issues from 2021.

In response, Advocate Glen Goddard acting for the MEC says the failure of the municipality to address these issues forced the MEC to act. He further argued that the MEC’s actions were based on facts, even if those were to date back to 2021.

Advocate Pillay has told the court that that Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa did not approve the appointment of an administrator within 28 days, as legislation requires. Advocate Pillay also argued that the intervention has lapsed as the minister did not write any letter which approves the intervention.

Judgment in the application to set aside the appointment of an administrator, has been reserved.