The suspension of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Head of Traffic and Licencing, Warren Prins on trumped-up charges, is a clear indication that the municipality’s disciplinary process is abused to eliminate skilled workers and tarnish their good names.
Weizman Hamilton, Marxist Workers Party General Secretary and organiser of an international solidarity campaign to stop the unfair labour practices at the municipality, condemned the suspension.
“It is an outrage! Prins is known to have dramatically improve services at the Traffic Department since his appointment in 2016. He got rid of long queues at the service centres, established the Motherwell Traffic and Licencing Department, introduced card payments amongst others.
“The municipal workers unions should be in uproar that such an exemplary official is suspended on flimsy charges. He allegedly transgressed employment equity targets and started disciplinary proceedings against an official accused of accepting bribes from motorists.
“The official was eventually dismissed by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
“We are also very concerned that the municipality investigated senior environmentalist Clyde Scott, found him not guilty and still stripped him of benefits enjoyed prior to the allegations levelled against him.
“The dismissal of human resources specialist Gayle Grootboom (in June) and municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron (in July) further completes the picture of deliberate racial targeting and an institutional campaign to eliminate competition for critical senior positions,” Weizman Hamilton said.
In September 2024, two armed men attempted to attack Warren Prins at his family home and a bullet, in a brown envelope with the initials of Prins’ deputy Eric Tiso, was found in the briefing room at the Sidwell Traffic Department.
Prins was formally suspended on Tuesday, 18 November.
For more information, call MWP General Secretary Weizman Hamilton at 081 366 7375.
