Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Hardie Viviers and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will hold the ANC-led Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) accountable for failing to reduce wasteful overtime expenditure, despite the implementation of the SHIFT system, by writing to the Municipal Manager.
At a recent Section 80 Finance Committee meeting, the DA learned that MMM’s July 2025 overtime spending was nearly triple its monthly budget, putting the municipality on track for significant annual overspending.
The DA supports the SHIFT System, which was designed to allocate twelve-hour shifts to MMM employees. This system, if properly implemented, aims to reduce overtime payments significantly. However, the recent financial data suggests that the intended reduction has not been realised.
MMM’s overtime overspending has increased sharply over the last two financial years, with the 2024/25 figure more than three times higher than the previous year.
Both the Executive Mayor, Gregory Nthatisi, and the Municipal Manager, Sello More (MM), presented the SHIFT System as the primary method for controlling overtime spending. However, they implemented this system without consulting MMM’s employees about its intended role in addressing the issue.
A Labour Court Judgement of 2 September 2025, SAMWU/MMM and the city, found that the municipality must:
- Bring back the SAMWU members’ working terms and conditions that were in place before 1 August 2025.
- Stop making any changes to the members’ working terms and conditions during the period set out in section 64(4) of the Labour Relations Act (Act 66 of 1995, as amended).
- Cover the legal costs of this application together (jointly and severally). If one party pays, the other doesn’t have to. These costs also include counsel’s fees, if a counsel was used.
Thus, the MM acted unlawfully by changing the employees’ employment conditions unilaterally.
MMM, on 10 September 2025 filed an Application for Leave to Appeal, effectively suspending the labour court judgement/interdict.
The consequences of these failures have directly impacted MMM residents, as critical services such as waste collection and law enforcement have nearly collapsed.
As a result, residents risk paying double for services, once for excessive overtime and again for potential legal costs if MMM loses its appeal.
If the DA were in government in MMM, it would have:
- Consulted with employees.
- Seeked mutual agreement.
- Not unilaterally alter the terms and conditions of employment without the employee’s consent.
- If no mutual agreement could be found, revert to the Bargaining Council, CCMA, or seek recourse in the courts before implementing the SHIFT System.
MMM residents have an opportunity to choose leadership that will implement accountable governance, cut wasteful overtime, and offer a proven record based on the DA’s experience elsewhere.
Choosing the DA means endorsing responsible spending and effective service delivery.