Unionists threaten City Hall invasion if boss does not go

By Max Matavire Municipal Reporter

METRO union shop stewards yesterday kicked out human resources manager Speech Sohena from his office.

They demanded his immediate suspension, following numerous allegations of nepotism and favouritism in municipal appointments.

The municipality has agreed to set up a commission of inquiry into the union’s allegations.

Singing revolutionary songs to the effect that Mr Sohena must go, the unionists invaded his eighth floor, Brister House, office and asked him to leave. Serious allegations of misuse of power, nepotism and general manipulation of municipal employment procedures have been levelled against Mr Sohena. Some claims are allegedly backed by documentary evidence.

The SA Municipal Workers’ Union shop stewards presented 10 demands to municipal manager Mzimasi Mangcotywa. They said if the demands were not met by today, they would move from Mr Sohena’s office to occupy the entire Port Elizabeth City Hall.

“Our action today is the culmination of a volcano which has been simmering for a long time. It has now erupted and this is only the beginning,” said Samwu metro branch treasurer Mzwandile Nini.

He said union representatives had held numerous meetings with Mr Mangcotywa, and last week with Mayor Nceba Faku, where they raised Mr Sohena’s “unscrupulous employment practices”. Flanked by PE Samwu chairman Melumzi Febana and Despatch chairman Mtutuzeli Calata, Mr Nini said they were going to mobilise all union members to “invade” the City Hall.

The union called for an independent commission of inquiry into Mr Sohena’s labour and employment practices, alleging he was employing his relatives and friends.

In a document to Mr Mangcotywa, Samwu also accuses Mr Sohena of manipulating the initial results of interviews for first-level managers.

A row erupted two months ago over the appointments of these managers and interviews had to be repeated.

“We suspect the results of the initial interviews were doctored on their way to the municipal manager,” Samwu claimed. They quoted the example of Mr Faku’s former wife, Kholiswa, who did not appear in the top three in the first interviews but was then top of the list during the second round of interviews.

She is now the manager responsible for employment equity.

Mr Sohena is also accused of using certain employment agencies in which he has interests.

Accusations against Mr Sohena are not new. The Herald has a letter from a contract employee whose contract was terminated by Mr Sohena.

Samwu is also bitter about the suspension on Monday of affirmative action officer Fezile Mavuso, also instructed by Mr Sohena.

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