Port Elizabeth – Deputy Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the Eastern Cape, Luthando Juju on Thursday said that the Provincial Executive Committee has fired provincial secretary Milton Myolwa.
Speaking to the African News Agency (ANA), Juju said Myolwa had been taking decisions on his own and was not working within the collective.
Juju was responding to questions after the Eastern Cape chairman of SAMWU, David Toyis, was reportedly expelled by the union for ill-discipline and allegedly sowing divisions within union structures.
“Milton (Myolwa) was recalled last week. He does not have the authority to issue statements. The statement released about Toyis is false,” said Juju.
“In February, the Provincial Executive Committee had a meeting in Port Alfred and a decision was taken to remove Milton (Myolwa) because he does not follow decisions taken by the structure … he is continually being defiant, ignoring decisions taken by the structure.”
He said that Toyis was still active as the elected SAMWU chairperson, as well as the Eastern Cape chairman of Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
Earlier this month, the SAMWU Central Executive Committee took a decision at a meeting in Gauteng to terminate the memberships of three office bearers – President Pule Molalenyane, 1st Deputy President John Dlamini and National Treasurer Portia Lindi.
Head of Department Moses Miya was suspended pending investigations.
Juju said the president, the deputy president and the national treasurer were expelled on March 14.
He said the CEC has applied for an interdict at the Johannesburg High Court to stop the trio from entering the national office at the Union Buildings. Juju said teir signing powers would be revoked – because they were allegedly misusing the union’s money.
Juju said that the matter would go to court next week.
SAMWU Acting National President, Timson Tshililo, said that the union viewed that the loan granted to Myolwa to buy a car was fraudulent.
“Milton received the loan from the former national treasurer, we view this as fraudulent activity,” said Tshililo.
Myolwa could not be reached for comment.
African News Agency
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