Reign of terror as NW municipality defies court, rewards 'violent' workers

Councillors who opposed illegal tenders attacked

- By Bongani Mdakane

The Tswaing local municipality in North West has defied a Labour Court order by reinstating 24 employees affiliated to the powerful South African Municipal Workers Union.

The fired workers subsequently received unexplained “stress relief” payments, despite no official policy justifying such payouts.

The reinstated workers were dismissed for brutally assaulting two municipal managers, Moruti Manoto in 2021 and Temeki Mabokela in 2022, who resisted pressure to award tenders to politically connected contractors.

The new municipal manager, Sello Maroga, is now reportedly also under threat, with fears of another violent attack.

Insiders claim councillors colluded with workers to influence tender awards to “preferred contractors” in exchange for kickbacks.

It is alleged that municipal managers who refused to comply were targeted, suggesting a criminal syndicate operating within the council.

The municipality flouted a 2021 Labour Court ruling that endorsed the dismissals, raising questions about political interference and the erosion of judicial authority.