A FORMER mayor has been caught on camera fighting with municipal workers.
Gift Moerane, the former mayor of the Emfuleni Local Municipality in the Vaal, said the trouble started because workers didn’t put up signs to warn motorists a road was closed. This happened on Tuesday afternoon, 29 November
Moerane said he got out of his car when he saw an angry taxi driver trying to attack workers with a stick. He said he calmed the taxi driver down but asked the workers to place the signs and cones they had in their vehicle on the road, and to talk nicely to the public.
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However, this angered the workers and one of them slapped the former mayor, accusing him of not having made sure employees had enough tools. “During my time in office, I received many complaints that road workers didn’t put up signs,” said Moerane.
“I was very disappointed with the workers, especially the young female who slapped me and the man who tried to punch me.”
He didn’t open a case but said he spoke to the current mayor, who promised to look into the matter. The South African Municipal Workers’ Union refused to comment and wouldn’t allow members to speak to the SunTeam, saying the matter was being investigated. Municipal spokesman Makhosonke Sangweni said: “The municipality has enough working tools and won’t condone the bad behaviour of workers towards citizens.”
