The South African Municipal Workers (Samwu) union in Tshwane has expressed disappointment over a statement made by Mayor Nasiphi Moya during a public meeting on Saturday in Winterveldt township, where she encouraged residents to record videos of municipal officers if residents are mistreated while inquiring about service delivery.

Regional union secretary, Donald Monakisi, criticised the statement, suggesting that it may create a hostile work environment and undermine the relationship between municipal workers and the community they serve.

“As Samwu we don’t encourage vigilantism. We are saying if there is any member of the public who needs to complain about any official there are channels provided for in the City. We are saying if a member of the public is not happy with the conduct of a certain official, such an official must be reported to the relevant department,” he said.

He said the Mayor's statement could potentially put the lives of municipal officials at risk.

Monakisi explained that if members of the public are unhappy with an official, they might not only record a video but also take matters further, possibly even resorting to physical assault.

“So that statement is reckless and we need to take up this matter with the office of the City Mayor to say her statement is putting our members and officials at risk,” he said.

At the public meeting, Moya heard firsthand from community members who expressed frustration and dissatisfaction with the treatment they receive from municipal officials when visiting local government offices.

One of the residents shared her disappointing experience with the hiring process for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWWP).

She described how, upon visiting the municipal offices in town, she was met with dismissive behavior by a female staff member.

She asked Moya to ensure her office is running smoothly saying “when we visit the municipal offices in town, staff are often unwilling to assist us”.

Moya took to X to share a video message, urging residents to record and document any instances of mistreatment by Tshwane municipal employees during customer service interactions.

“We need to know who they are so we can hold them accountable,” she said.

She said if officials have the wrong attitude it spoils everything that the City’s executive members want to do.

“And therefore we must deal with them but we can’t deal with people we don’t know. I will be very happy to see an official of the City trending because they were rude to someone and they were recorded,” she said.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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