Staff Reporter
QwaQwa – Members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) are expected to embark on a peaceful protest march today at 11:30 against the proposed disestablishment of Map Water by the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality.
The march is expected to bring together workers and union members concerned about the future of the municipal entity and the possible impact the move could have on jobs and service delivery.
WATCH
In a letter addressed to Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina, SAMWU warned that the municipality’s actions had pushed the entity into crisis.
The union claimed the situation was a result of “parallel processes, mainly liquidation and disestablishment,” which it says have contributed to the “intentional collapse” of Map Water and threatened the delivery of basic services to communities.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has since confirmed that although Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa will not attend the march due to prior commitments, the department supports the initiative and will officially receive the memorandum.
In correspondence signed by Director-General Mzobulelo Tshangana, COGTA stated that senior officials have been delegated to engage with the union and receive the memorandum on behalf of the Minister.
According to the department, the appointed officials are fully authorised to engage constructively with the SAMWU delegation and ensure that the memorandum is processed through the relevant departmental channels.
SAMWU maintains that urgent national intervention is needed, arguing that the possible closure of Map Water could have serious consequences for municipal operations, workers and service delivery in Maluti-a-Phofung.
MAP Local Municipality has had at least three Executive Mayors since the last local government elections.
Being a Mayor at MAP is like a side gig, may end without notice.
The Municipality has acting CFO and the municipal manager can’t read financial statements. You can’t make this up.
Qwaqwa is in the ruins, democracy destroyed everything built by Dr Tsiame Mopeli and if you want to argue go to vote on the 4 November 2026.
This is a developing story.
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