Hundreds of cleaners and security guards in eThekwini Municipality marched to the Durban City Hall yesterday to demand an end to outsourcing by the Department of Health and the Metro in KwaZulu Natal instead of using external contractors. The workers want security personnel and cleaners on contracts to get permanent jobs at the municipality with benefits and better salaries.

The march was organised by an NPO which represent workers in KZN called Iphimbo Labasebenzi Association (ILA). ILA leader Elvis Mngcwango said the workers are demanding that the municipality insource them. "We want the municipality to insource security personnel and cleaners. We cannot be part of outsourcing where other municipalities have insourced cleaners and securities. We must be treated equally; the municipality must implement the council resolutions that were passed last year," said Mngcwango. ILA represents eight security companies used by the municipality. ActionSA joined the workers when they handed over a memorandum addressed to the Department of Health and the eThekwini Metro Council to the city's manager at Durban City Hall. The memorandum called for the swift insourcing of security guards and cleaning staff. Last year, the municipality conducted a feasibility study regarding insourcing external cleaning services and security personnel, which they have determined to be non-feasible.

ActionSA KZN leader Zwakele Mngcwango accused eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda of being slow in implementing the insourcing processes. Mngcwango said the council had given the municipality a reasonable timeframe of three months to conduct the feasibility study on the matter; however, the municipality has dragged its feet, extending the process to a total of six months. "We are deeply disappointed yet not entirely surprised by the ANC-led municipality's decision to overturn the insourcing processes voted for in August of last year. Despite the ANC's initial voting for the motion's implementation, it has become apparent that they are now seeking to undermine these processes at every turn," said Zwakele. He added: "We will not stand idly by while the ANC attempts to sabotage this crucial initiative. This set back will not mark the end of the journey for us. We remain committed to our fight for insourcing security and cleaning services at the municipality," he added. Addressing the wworkers, Zwakele said that they demand transparency from the City Manager and call on the feasibility study's findings to be made available to dispel any doubts about the validity and thoroughness of this investigation.