Yesterday, the Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Herman Mashaba and South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), led by its General Secretary, Mr Zwelinzima Vavi, reached a historic agreement aimed at providing relief to 280 workers who were previously dismissed by the then Midrand Council over 23 years ago.
More than 500 municipal workers went on strike in 1994 in protest against corruption and nepotism within the then council. They were dismissed and left penniless; most of them were denied their pension entitlements.
The City will ensure that these workers are considered for existing and new vacancies and will be appointed where possible into permanent positions over the next six months.
Corruption should never be allowed within our society. These workers should have been given special medals for being heroes and heroines of the struggle against corruption.
Regrettably instead of them being seen as the heroes in the struggle against corruption, they were subjected to victimisation whilst those guilty of corruption were allowed to remained in their jobs.
These workers and their families needlessly suffered for 23 years at the hands of administrations which preferred to protect corruption officials rather than honest workers.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Council and the SAFTU further agreed that the City will work tirelessly to investigate what became of these workers’ pension funds.
By all of us working together, we can not only end corruption but also build a prosperous Johannesburg for all.