​The City of Johannesburg will no longer pay subscription fees to the SA Local Government Association in protest against the organisation’s “dereliction of duty”. However, the City will remain a member of Salga.

 In a statement this week, MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services, Cllr Ntombi Khumalo, clarified that the withholding of the subscription fees did not mean the City’s membership of Salga would be affected.

MMC Khumalo said: “As a point of clarity, the decision by the City of Johannesburg Municipal Council does not constitute termination of the City’s membership to SALGA. It is rather a refusal by to continue paying subscriptions to an organisation that is dismally failing to perform and discharge its function, roles and responsibilities."

“Withholding of membership to Salga does not in any way constitute withdrawal from collective bargaining structures. SALGA is a facilitator between the City and employees, it remains obligated to continue as per its commitment to its members.”she continued.

Suggestions that the City of Johannesburg had withdrawn its membership of Salga was sparked by a decision by the City Council to approved the non-payment of subscription fees to Salga on account of the entity’s dereliction of duty to the City.

The City is of the firm view that Salga has failed to perform its functions diligently, honestly and to the best of its abilities.

Khumalo explained that the City had on a number of occasions tried to engage Salga without any success.

Khumalo was at pains to explain that the City of Johannesburg’s collective bargaining structures, such as the Johannesburg Division of the SALGBC, LLF, LMF and LMCs, would continue to function, adding that the City would engage organized labour in all matters mutually beneficial to all parties.​​