THE City of Cape Town is being asked to explain why it employs foreigners, and not South Africans, as professional parking attendants.
Describing himself as a "concerned resident", Zola Mbulawa says according to strict guidelines laid down by the Department of Labour, "a job should be given to a foreign national only when there is no suitably qualified South African" to do it.
But this policy is flouted by the city because, according to Mbulawa, "the majority of professional parking attendants in the City of Cape Town are foreign nationals". Mbulawa has written to the City of Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille, city manager Achmat Ebrahim and legal director Lungelo Mbandazayo for answers.
He wants to know if South Africans are not able to become professional parking attendants and is demanding what he terms "uncomfortable answers".
"In employing these foreign nationals, is there proof that the city or employer advertised these positions and could not find suitably qualified South Africans to fill the positions?" he asked in his correspondence.
Mbulawa said in the case of parking attendants, the skill required was "neither technical nor specialised" and should therefore be filled by South Africans.
Part of the reply from city officials stated that the parking duties were outsourced to a private company.
But Mbulawa would have none of that. "The service being provided is at the behest of the city and the city cannot claim that it doesn't employ the attendants," he said.
"I would argue that they have authority or influence on whether or not this contractor complies with either legislation or the basic principle of the city looking after its citizens first."
The city also failed to inform Mbulawa of the number of parking attendants - local and foreign - it employed.
"I would argue that this is information that can be accessed by making a phone call," he said.
After Mbulawa was allegedly referred from one official to the next, the city's customer relations officer Nicette Jorissen did respond. She said his query would be responded to in due course.
Row over city parking jobs
THE City of Cape Town is being asked to explain why it employs foreigners, and not South Africans, as professional parking attendants.
Describing himself as a "concerned resident", Zola Mbulawa says according to strict guidelines laid down by the Department of Labour, "a job should be given to a foreign national only when there is no suitably qualified South African" to do it.
But this policy is flouted by the city because, according to Mbulawa, "the majority of professional parking attendants in the City of Cape Town are foreign nationals". Mbulawa has written to the City of Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille, city manager Achmat Ebrahim and legal director Lungelo Mbandazayo for answers.
He wants to know if South Africans are not able to become professional parking attendants and is demanding what he terms "uncomfortable answers".
"In employing these foreign nationals, is there proof that the city or employer advertised these positions and could not find suitably qualified South Africans to fill the positions?" he asked in his correspondence.
Mbulawa said in the case of parking attendants, the skill required was "neither technical nor specialised" and should therefore be filled by South Africans.
Part of the reply from city officials stated that the parking duties were outsourced to a private company.
But Mbulawa would have none of that. "The service being provided is at the behest of the city and the city cannot claim that it doesn't employ the attendants," he said.
"I would argue that they have authority or influence on whether or not this contractor complies with either legislation or the basic principle of the city looking after its citizens first."
The city also failed to inform Mbulawa of the number of parking attendants - local and foreign - it employed.
"I would argue that this is information that can be accessed by making a phone call," he said.
After Mbulawa was allegedly referred from one official to the next, the city's customer relations officer Nicette Jorissen did respond. She said his query would be responded to in due course.
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