City takes stand against order for officials' reinstatement

The City of Tshwane is challenging an arbitration award that ordered the reinstatement of five senior officials implicated in the controversial Rooiwal waste water treatment works tender.

- Marizka Coetzer

The five senior officials were placed on precautionary suspension last year amid accusations of flouting processes to award the Rooiwal tender to companies linked to controversial businessman Edwin Sodi.

The officials were charged with gross negligence and/or dereliction of duty, which breached legislation, policies and codes of conduct.

However, the South African Local Government Bargaining Council's (SALGBC) arbitration award ordered the five to return to work by yesterday.

Hammanskraal farmer Theunis Vogel said not much has changed at Rooiwal.

"The state of the Apies River has not changed.

"They said by the end of this week the pressure belt will work again, but I want to see that happen first," he said.

Vogel said the fumes from the sewage were harmful to the residents and crops in the area.

"We have lost harvest after harvest, hardly breaking even," he said.