The union wants the municipality to appoint a Tsonga-speaking person to the position of municipal manager.

The municipality is currently led by Pedi-speaking managers Joshua Matlou, who is the executive mayor, and Timothy Maake, the municipal manager.

Samwu chairman Steven Mashabane yesterday said his union had embarked on a strike because of the imbalances of staff absorption in the municipality.

"More often than not Maake overlooks Tsonga- and Venda-speaking people in favour of Pedis.

"It is wrong that the municipality is now run by a Pedi-speaking municipal manager and a Pedi-speaking mayor. It is also painful that the same municipality had a chief financial officer, technical director and corporate services director who are all Pedi-speaking," Mashabane said.

He said the contracts of the three directors had since lapsed and were not renewed after the union's intervention.

Matlou said the union's claims were "unfounded, baseless and lacked substance".

He said they did not appoint people based on tribal lines, but on their qualifications and skills.

"Why mention only Pedi-speaking directors when we also have Tsonga- and Venda-speaking directors. It is a known fact that Maake is qualified and knows his work inside out. We cannot, by law, relieve Maake of his duties in an effort to please the union."

Samwu has accused Maake of practising tribalism and nepotism in the appointment of employees at the institution.

Despite facing stiff opposition from the union, the ANC in Limpopo has ignored the union's demands and renewed Maake's contract for another five years.

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Thu May 23 12:53:44 SAST 2013 ::

May 4, 2012

Magwazambawula

It is true,only people from Phalaborwa,Sekororo,Modjadji and (Tzaneen)Maake's site are getting jobs under Tim Maake(The Municipal Manager) and leave the people from Giyani out,though the offices are situated in Giyani, people around them are not benefitting anything.Giyani is spoiled with good administrators - Managers,well-educated people with the necessary skills.This is the fact,factions within the ANC in Mopani are affecting service delivery, if you are not supporting Malema,Mathale and Matlou, you will never get job - they say join us we will give job.I remember one of the Malema cronies supporting Matlou and Mathale, was appointed to be a Manager: Finance in the Department of Health and Social Development in Mopani with a Diploma in Teaching because she support their camp.They also use the infighting within the ANC to devide Mopani,Joining the ANC and support Mathale, Malema and Matlou is a ticket to get job not qualifications,skills and experience.How can you employ someone with no qualification in the crucial Department like Health,to hold a very crucial position.ANC NEC must do something about this,PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING OUT THERE,EDUCATION IS NO LONGER IMPORTANT TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN LIMPOPO BECAUSE YOU WILL JOIN YOUTH LEAGUE, SUPPORT MATLOU AND GET JOB WITH OR NOT WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS.
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May 4, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

'Samwu has accused Maake of practising tribalism and nepotism in the appointment of employees at the institution'.
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Jah the stupidity will never end or should I call it attension seeking how can this mor0n make tribalism accusations when he wants them practiced in that municipality. Why did they not object the appointments in the firstplace becase they sit throught interviews and selection processes??


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May 4, 2012

Tshikhokhonono

Lets not make a tribal case when there is none. Steven Mashabane is himself a tribalist, hence his call for Tsonga speaking people to be considered. The problems facing the municipality as @Magwazambawula stated are rooted in the ANC politics not tribalism. I'm a Maake from Ga- Modjadji, i know Tim personally and i dont want to work for him or with him because i understand he is a political appointment, although not taking away his qualifications and abilities.
The ANC politics nowadays are more to do with factionalism,surrounding themselves with people who will not challenge their authority. The Mayor, Mr Matlou is worse, a teacher by profession and he and Mathale (a Tsonga) has rewarded their homeboys with tenders in the municipality.
The argument by the mayor that Maake is educated doesnt hold water as there are better qualified people than him but because they are not politically connected they are overlooked.
I have a post grad in economics and political science but was not considered for the municipal manager position at Greater Letaba and Greater Tzaneen because i'm not a politician but a professional.
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May 4, 2012

Blackstone.lebs

The union wants the municipality to appoint a Tsonga-speaking person to the position of municipal manager.
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Stupid chairman lost it right here, why specify your preferred tribe if you're not tribalist yourself. Nepotism is not new and the current political war coupled with SAMWU's stupidity will only fuel it further. The question is why make noise about tribalism when you are one?
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