Emfuleni municipality’s R55 million labour dispute expenditure condemned

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The Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in Sedibeng has condemned the R55 million expenditure by Emfuleni municipality on an employee labour dispute while its state of affairs continues to collapse.

The Red Beret lashed out at the cash-strapped municipality that has been bleeding money meant for service delivery in courts over unfair labour practices relating to benefits on acting allowances.

This they said while residents suffer from constant shortage of water, poor refuse collection and persistent power outages.

EFF SEDIBENG STATEMENT ON THE COLLAPSED ANC-LED EMFULENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY SPENDING R55 MILLION ON LABOUR DISPUTE pic.twitter.com/6eTYObhDHh

— EFF Sedibeng Region (@Effsedibeng1) March 27, 2024

According to Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), MEC Mzi Khumalo, four legal firms were paid for the legal dispute between Emfuleni and its employee, Edward Radebe.

Radebe was fighting an unfair labour practice relating to benefits on acting allowance.

Madhlopha and Thenga Inc Attorney was paid R37 541 183.96, while Kgokong Attorney got R47 500.00, Botes Heerden Incorporated garnered R15 996 244.35 and Mojela Hlazo Attorney received R1 730 813.53

The legal fees were paid to these firms between July 1, 2017 and March 24, 2024.

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“This is one of the many reasons why the EFF has, on many occasions, called for insourcing at the collapsed municipality. The surprising part is that the municipality has a legal department that can deal with labour issues but rather chooses to outsource,” remarked regional chairperson Isaac Khithika.

Khithika called for the cutting of the middleman and the use of the internal legal department.

Emfuleni officials using law firms to loot public funds

“We are also calling for the immediate closure of pursuing unending labour disputes,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance’s Emfuleni North Constituency Head, Kingsol Chabalala said the municipality’s exorbitant spending on outsourced legal representation indicates a lack of capacity within its internal legal unit.

“It has now become the norm for Emfuleni officials to use law firms representing the municipality to loot public funds, which is a major concern.

“The DA demands that MEC Khumalo immediately intervene and ensure the Emfuleni legal unit serves its purpose of handling legal issues about the municipality,” he added. 

Chabalala stated that they will also be referring this matter to the Public Protector should the MEC fail to investigate and hold those implicated to account.