Breakthrough for Midrand workers - report

Cape Town - A draft “integrity report” drawn up by a Johannesburg City Council official has found that 280 Midrand workers sacked more than 22 years ago “seem to have a valid claim” about details of their dismissal. 

The report, which is to be finalised in consultation with the worker representatives, was commissioned by executive mayor Herman Mashaba.

It notes that “the genesis of the work stoppage” — labelled an “illegal strike” — that led to the sackings was an allegation by the workers that a “gross amount of bribery was taking place in the personnel office”. 

The contention by the workers that their dismissal was “indirectly related to their reporting of alleged corrupt activities” is upheld in the report as “credible and authentic”.

Not included in the draft is the claim by workers that it was necessary to pay bribes of up to R300 to be employed by the Midrand council in 1993/4.  Such detail could be added in a final report or presented in person to the mayor by the workers.

Heading the office at the time was human resources and labour relations manager Kamani Ernest Letjane, who founded Akani Retirement Fund Administrators in 2000 that now handles the municipal employees’ pension fund.  He is also the chairperson of the new R250m Ekurhuleni International Convention Centre and hotel complex.

The apparently high handed manner in which the council at the time handled the matter of both the corruption allegations, a subsequent hearing and the reasons advanced for this are listed in the draft report as “flimsy to say the least”. 

But despite the “valid claim” finding, the council officials responsible for the report felt they were “unable to determine whether their dismissal was unfair or not”.

Stena Molepo, co-ordinator of the Midrand workers said: “At least we have finally got somewhere,” adding, “but there is also still the question of our pension money to be cleared up”.

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