eThekwini Councillors speak out on poor working conditions
eThekwini Councillors speak out on poor working conditions! Councillors in the eThekwini Municipality have raised serious concerns over their poor working conditions, particularly the lack of proper office space to engage with the public and carry out their duties.
At a full council meeting on Friday, councillors approved an amendment to the 42 existing office lease agreements to cover the remainder of the current Council term, which expires in February 2027. However, many councillors remain frustrated, arguing that the bureaucratic hurdles involved in securing office space have hindered service delivery at the ward level.
Challenges in Securing Office Space
The office of the Speaker, Thabani Nyawose, is responsible for ensuring the welfare of councillors, including providing office space to facilitate their work with communities.
In 2021, the municipality advertised a tender to lease office space for the 2021-2026 Council term, seeking a panel of service providers to offer premises in various wards. However, the tender process failed because none of the suppliers met the mandatory requirements.
As a result, the city resorted to a Section 36 deviation process, bypassing normal Supply Chain Management (SCM) procedures, to secure 48 three-year lease contracts. Currently, 42 of these contracts will remain in effect until February 2027, with the estimated cost of the lease amendments exceeding R7 million.
Councillors Express Frustration Over Conditions
Many councillors described the lack of proper office space as a significant barrier to performing their duties effectively.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Caucus Chief Whip, Councillor Yogis Govender, stated that this issue has been a persistent challenge for the last two council terms.
“Given the extraordinary challenges that eThekwini faces, it is unimaginable how a councillor is expected to function from either the boot of their cars or makeshift information tables on the side of a street or road,” she said.
Govender further explained that without proper office space, councillors are unable to perform essential administrative work. She also highlighted the poor structural conditions of some offices, recounting shocking incidents where councillors’ safety was compromised.
“One councillor was eventually given a municipal-based office after seven years, and a week later, the roof caved in over the desk. Fortunately, there were no injuries. A year later, the door fell off, and the office had a wood borer infestation. Another councillor had his office flooded twice because he had no option but to occupy a basement in another municipal facility,” she explained.
Govender urged the municipality to explore alternative solutions to improve office leasing, including streamlining SCM procedures and collaborating with landlords to address compliance concerns. She also suggested considering temporary or modular office solutions to ease the crisis.
Councillors Demand Better Support
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) councillor, Dr. Jonathan Annipen, emphasized that councillors need proper resources to carry out their duties effectively. He pointed out that even when office spaces are allocated, they are often inadequately furnished.
“I took occupancy of the current office in February 2022. In November 2023, a very large office table and printer were delivered. There are no chairs. Councillors’ support staff are not ignorant of the challenges because I have tormented them with many emails on the matter,” Annipen said.
Political Allegations Over Office Allocation
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor Banele Dlamini went further, accusing the office of the Speaker of deliberately disadvantaging smaller parties by making it difficult for them to secure offices.
“We were told to go and look for offices ourselves. We believe this is a political ploy led by the office of the Speaker to prevent small parties from performing their duties,” Dlamini claimed.
The allegations suggest that some councillors suspect political interference in the allocation of office space, further deepening tensions within the council.
Way Forward: Calls for Urgent Action
As frustration among councillors grows, there are increasing calls for the municipality to urgently address these concerns.
Govender and other opposition councillors have urged the municipality to improve leasing processes, explore more efficient ways to secure office spaces, and ensure that councillors have adequate resources to serve their communities effectively.
For now, many eThekwini councillors continue to operate under difficult conditions, limiting their ability to provide services to the residents they represent. With mounting pressure on the Speaker’s office, councillors hope for swift intervention to resolve these ongoing challenges before the current council term ends in 2027.
