In a shocking revelation, the Emfuleni municipality, located in the Vaal region, has been found to be paying a salary of approximately R40,000 per month to a senior engineering technician who has been absent from work for an astounding four years. The scandalous case came to light following a written response from Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs MEC Mzi Khumalo to DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala’s questions tabled in the legislature in May.
The technician in question, identified as Silence Munwai, has reportedly been sitting at home since 2016, when a protection order was obtained against him by his superior and manager for the municipality’s parks and cemeteries, Sithembile Ngobeni. According to MEC Khumalo, Ngobeni sought the protection order after Munwai allegedly made severe threats to shoot and kill her during a dispute about his perpetual absenteeism from work.
As a result of the dispute, Munwai was initially transferred to the sports department. However, the municipality has claimed that he later decided to remain at home since 2019, effectively abandoning his job. Shockingly, the municipality has continued to pay his annual salary of R597,012 despite his absence from duty for such a prolonged period.
The situation raises serious concerns about the efficiency and oversight within the Emfuleni municipality. Notably, the auditor-general’s report in 2022 had already ranked the municipality as one of the eight municipalities with a poor performance record. The latest scandal involving Munwai’s continued salary payment adds to the municipality’s growing list of woes.
What is even more concerning is that seven years have passed since the protection order was obtained, yet the dispute remains unresolved. Sithembile Ngobeni is still serving as the manager for parks and cemeteries, while the whereabouts of Munwai remain unknown. The municipality’s spokesperson, Makhosonke Sangweni, expressed that they are uncertain about who has been signing timesheets on Munwai’s behalf at the office, further exacerbating the mystery.
Sangweni explained, “Mr. Munwai has been submitting his attendance registers as a person who has been reporting to work; however, the municipality is yet to verify who was signing his timesheets, including the recent one for the month of May. We are currently investigating all other facts to try and bring this matter to its conclusion.”
Efforts to address the issue have proven challenging for the municipality. While steps were taken to resolve the dispute, they hit a major obstacle when the executive director responsible for handling the case left the municipality without achieving a resolution. This has only added to the frustration and outrage expressed by the public and concerned parties alike.
The Emfuleni municipality’s apparent lack of accountability and oversight is particularly disheartening for residents and taxpayers who expect their hard-earned money to be used responsibly. The scandalous revelation about Munwai’s salary draws attention to the need for more stringent measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In light of the unfolding situation, authorities must conduct a thorough investigation to determine the extent of misconduct and negligence within the municipality. Moreover, immediate action should be taken against any individuals found complicit in facilitating Munwai’s salary payment without justification.
Citizens have called for transparency, accountability, and swift justice to be served in this matter. They demand a comprehensive audit of the municipality’s financial practices and the establishment of mechanisms to prevent such blatant misuse of public funds in the future.
As the investigation unfolds, Emfuleni’s municipal officials must face the music and take responsibility for their actions, or lack thereof, to restore public confidence and rebuild the municipality’s tarnished reputation. Only then can the community be assured that their hard-earned money will be used judiciously to serve the needs of the public and contribute to the region’s development.
