The South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) in Gauteng has come out strongly in support of five senior officials from the City of Tshwane, who have been suspended due to their alleged involvement in the irregular awarding of a R295 million tender. The tender, awarded to Edwin Sodi’s company, Blackhead Consulting, was meant for the refurbishment of the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant. Despite failing to meet the required criteria, Blackhead Consulting was given the contract. However, the project faced severe delays and quality issues, prompting the City to terminate the agreement.
The five officials—Stevens Notoane, the group head of the Water and Sanitation Department; Justice Sekokotla, director of electrification; Dumisani Gubuza, divisional head of Water and Sanitation; Frans Manganyi, divisional head of electricity planning and development; and Thembeka Mphefu, divisional head of supply chain management—have been on paid suspension since April of the previous year. This suspension has been pending the outcome of an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which recently concluded part of its probe into the tender.
In December 2024, the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) ruled in favor of the suspended officials, declaring the suspension unfair and ordering their reinstatement by January 20, 2025. The City of Tshwane, however, disagreed with the ruling and filed an application with the Labour Court to review and overturn the arbitration award. Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the application effectively put the bargaining council’s decision on hold, pending the outcome of the court challenge.
The City’s legal challenge cites “defects” in the arbitration proceedings, and it has enlisted a law firm to handle the matter. In addition to this challenge, the City had previously filed an application to the Labour Court last year, requesting a review of the findings and sanctions from a disciplinary hearing against the officials. The case remains pending, and the City has urged the court to expedite the review process.
Samwu, in a strongly worded statement, condemned the City’s decision to challenge the SALGBC ruling. General Secretary Dumisane Magagula described the move as “reckless” and an affront to South Africa’s labour laws and collective agreements. He dismissed the City’s claims of defects in the proceedings as an attempt to evade legal responsibility. “This baseless excuse serves no other purpose than to delay justice, prolong unnecessary legal battles, and waste taxpayers’ money,” Magagula said.
The union also cautioned the new administration in Tshwane to avoid following the path of the former mayor, Cilliers Brink, who was accused of disregarding the bargaining council’s findings in the past. Magagula stressed that the union remains steadfast in its commitment to defending the rights of municipal workers and upholding the integrity of collective bargaining agreements. “We demand that the City of Tshwane honour its commitments, stop wasting public funds on frivolous legal battles, and uphold the principles of fairness, justice, and respect for workers,” he stated.
In contrast, former mayor Cilliers Brink welcomed the City’s decision to challenge the SALGBC ruling in the Labour Court. “We asked the city administration to take this decision, on review in the Labour Court, which they are now doing,” he said. Brink’s statement reflects a continued political divide over how to address the alleged misconduct within the City of Tshwane.
The ongoing legal battle continues to attract attention, with both the City of Tshwane and Samwu digging in their heels. At the heart of the dispute is the fairness of the suspensions and the handling of a high-value contract that has now been tainted by delays, quality issues, and the ongoing investigation. The outcome of the court proceedings could have significant implications for the future of municipal governance and the principles of fairness in South African public service.
