Israel Nkate

Israel Nkate

Municipal workers in the impoverished town of Moses Kotane near Rustenburg are seething that the mayor, Peter Molelekeng, wants to appoint a personal chef at the municipality's expense.

Members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) say the mayor is behaving as if he were a king or queen in 17th century England.

The workers were shocked to see an advertisement in Sowetan last week for a chef at the mayor's house.

"The most disturbing factor is that this chef is going to be paid by the municipality and be included in the municipal organisational structure, which currently does not provide for such a position," said shop steward July Khoza.

Samwu is also upset that the mayor has been provided with a R1,5 million house. "The high cost of the house is in itself unacceptable," said Khoza.

Khoza said the union would call on Cosatu to march on the municipal offices and involve the communities of Moses Kotane to stop the mayor making "this bogus appointment".

Beauty Makganye, spokesman for the municipality, refused to comment, saying she was on sick leave.