Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Jacques Barnard and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will formally address the Municipal Manager of Metsimaholo Local Municipality regarding its refusal to pay overtime for urgent service-related emergencies. This short-sighted decision is directly endangering communities by delaying critical interventions such as the maintenance of blocked sewage drains, which are vital to the health, safety, and dignity of residents.
In recent weeks, urgent situations have arisen where blocked sewage drains and related emergencies required immediate intervention outside of normal working hours.
Despite the essential nature of this work, municipal employees have been informed that overtime may not be authorised or paid, even in cases of emergency, after 16H00 during weekdays and 14H00 during weekends.
This approach may pose risks to public health, the environment, and service delivery. Sewage spills, if left unattended, can contaminate water sources, spread disease, and create hazardous living conditions. Communities have a valid expectation of timely municipal intervention in such emergencies, and workers should be empowered to act promptly.
We call on the municipality’s leadership to urgently review this decision and ensure that:
- Essential services such as sewage, water, and sanitation are prioritised at all times.
- Emergency response mechanisms are fully resourced and funded, including overtime where required.
- Municipal employees are not unfairly penalised for responding to urgent situations beyond their control.
If essential roles like sewage maintenance and basic services are not recognised and supported, it may undermine the municipality’s constitutional duty to provide safe, reliable, and dignified living conditions for all residents.
The community deserves the best possible service, and we, as the DA, are committed to constructively engaging on this matter until a fair and sustainable solution is reached.