New speaker meets MAP workers

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA – New Maluti–a–Phofung (MAP) speaker Mandlankosi Dlamini has urged the municipality’s staff to respect the community that they serve and be the ones on the front line to defend the integrity of the municipality by having good work ethics.

“With this new leadership at the helm, I promise that we are going to work very well together, and everyone will be happy if we all do our work properly.

“We cannot achieve this if we do not perform our four core functions in terms of service delivery which are providing water, electricity, refuse removal and the collection of rates and taxes to the best of our ability as a local municipality.

“We cannot as municipal workers owe the municipality for services. You as workers must be the ones who defend the municipality; you cannot be the ones who are part of and encourage community members to support shutdowns,” Dlamini said while addressing the staff.

At the same occasion, Chief Whip Moeketsi Lebesa reiterated Dlamini’s words and said it is a country’s workers that can build or destroy a country, so it is very important for the municipality to encourage and motivate its workers.

“As a municipality, we need to motivate our staff so that we have municipal workers who are dedicated and committed to their work.

“We cannot have staff that is loitering and spending their time at work on unproductive activities.”

Hopolang Skhosana a staff member from corporate services told The Guard: “I truly appreciate this meeting that our political leaders had with us today because it shows that the leadership really wants to work well with us and we are willing to work well with them as long as they service our engines, meaning that they must keep us happy and satisfied.”

On the other hand, Dimakato Mosia from the department of sports said she is not happy because this is not the first time that political leaders promise its staff things that they endes up not delivering on.

“I am not moved by his meeting at all because there is nothing new that was said here today. Our leaders tend to make promises that they cannot keep.

“In our municipality there are workers who receive special treatment and have their needs met while the rest of us are left unhappy and dissatisfied,” Mosia said.

In her closing remarks, newly appointed executive mayor Masetjhaba Lakaje-Mosia said municipal workers will not be able to do their work if they are not happy.

“It is very clear that the workers of MAP are not happy because everywhere in our community, whether you go to Kestell or Harrismith you are met with piles of dumping sites, as there is no refuse removal.

“There is no way that the staff can do their jobs properly if they are not happy. We are here now and, with this new leadership in charge, things are going to improve,” Lakaje-Mosia said.

During this meeting municipal workers were also urged to be aware of the structural system that is technical and computerized, that will ensure that every worker is well suited and qualified for their specific job. All staff have to produce records of their qualifications for this system to be implemented.