By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Emfuleni municipality managed to make last minute salary payments to employees on Friday after Eskom’s seizure of the municipality’s assets
Eskom obtained an order from the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria last month, permitting it to seize R1.3 billion worth of the municipality’s assets.
About 2,000 Emfuleni municipal employees and councillors did not receive their pay cheques on Tuesday.
The DA claimed the municipality had issued a letter to employees and councillors, confirming that salaries for the month of December will not be paid on time.
Emfuleni spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni confirmed that payments were made.
“The allegations are not true. It was delayed because during December they usually pay salaries as early as the 20th, but they have requested to be given until the 23rd of December, so salaries will be paid.
“The salaries were being delayed, because Eskom has attached the account of the municipality and it a matter that was resolved yesterday through the intervention of the Gauteng premier and Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan.”
South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) said the matter was resolved after an intervention of several government stakeholders, including Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s office.
“There have been several meetings between Eskom, the municipality, the Department of Public Enterprises, and the premier’s office to try and resolve the matter because at the centre of it was that Eskom attached the bank accounts of the municipality. Eskom lifted its attachment of the municipality’s account this morning, and the salaries are being paid,” said the union.