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Joburg denies R4 billion diversion from capex budget in respect of G20 ‘blackmail’ by union

Details

joburgcityNewsday reports that the City of Johannesburg has denied diverting R4 billion from its capital expenditure budget to prevent disruptions to the G20 summit.

This follows a Sunday Times report published alleging that the City diverted the money to prevent SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) members from disrupting the upcoming G20 summit. The diversion is said to have followed an agreement for the City to pay R4 billion of a R10 billion agreement to increase municipal worker salaries over the next two years. Joburg mayor Dada Morero said in a statement: ““No such diversion has taken place. The city has not yet budgeted for the agreement reached in principle with Samwu on Friday, 14 November.” He added that the report’s claim that Joburg’s Mayoral Committee met in October to discuss the diversion of funds from Johannesburg Water, the Johannesburg Roads Agency, or any other entity was also false. He said that expenditure could only occur once municipal funds were appropriated through council processes, which typically occurred in June or February.

However, in response, journalist Sisanda Mbolekwa posted the alleged agreement, which shows that the city will commit “a minimum of R1.2 billion, up to a maximum of R2 billion” by March 2026. The city will also commit to paying a minimum of R5 billion, up to a maximum of R6 billion, by July 2026, and further commit to paying R4.1 billion by July 2027. In September Samwu warned that “if workers’ demands relating to salary parity with other metros were met “there is no G20 that will take place.”

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Daniel Puchert at Newsday
  • Lees ook, Jhb-burgemeester beloof glo R10 miljard vir vakbond, by Maroela Media


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