Johannesburg – Joy has turned to sadness for reinstated City of Joburg staffers because they have not been paid for March and they have been told they can stay at home.
Earlier this year in February, at least 78 staffers, who are members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) got their jobs back after the high court in Johannesburg reinstated them.
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Affected employees who were expecting to get paid outstanding salaries at the end of March have now been informed by the City of Joburg that salaries were still being worked out.
In a letter to SAMWU, seen by The Bulrushes, the City of Joburg said: “The City is working tirelessly to ensure that March salaries are paid to the affected members as previously communicated by [the] Group Human Capital Management team.”
Many hard-pressed employees who have made financial commitments with creditors based on expectations that they would be paid at the end of March have been left in the lurch.
“In my last conversation with an HR guy, he said they are doing everything in their power to process our payments… but still no mention of dates… and no mention of whether it’s the salary or a bit of the back pay as well,” a staffer said.
The matter goes back to early 2022 when the City of Joburg unilaterally cancelled the contracts of about 130 employees.
“We have suffered so much prejudice. Just when we thought it was all over [We have been reinstated] … In the process they are avoiding the contempt of court judgment against them,” lamented another staffer.
In the letter to SAMWU, Siyabonga Nodu, Acting Group Executive Director at the City of Joburg, said: “Considering that [the] majority of your members were unemployed since 1 May 2022, the City has decided that your members need not to report for duty until such time they have been paid their March salary 2024.”
