The North West Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs has noted with utter disappointment the media statement published on 7 September 2012 by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) on their website under the heading "SAMWU to take legal action against MEC and Minister of Local Government".

In the statement SAMWU threatens to haul both MEC China Dodovu and Minister Richard Baloyi to court for what they (SAMWU) term "moving at a snail's pace in uprooting corrupt elements in local government in North West province".

It is regrettable that SAMWU choose to engage with both the MEC and the Minister through the media when they are aware of an open door policy that is practiced in the department. The department is at the coalface of service delivery and therefore continues to practice this policy.

It would have been appropriate for SAMWU to engage the department on a clarity seeking exercise before airing their enquiries through a media platform in order to understand how the department has dealt with some of the issues raised (in their media statement ) in terms of the parameters of the law.

The department has mechanisms in place to root out corruption and has made strides quite comprehensively in dealing with such elements in some municipalities across the province. The MEC would therefore encourage SAMWU or any other formations to directly engage the department on any other issues relating to municipalities going forward.

North West Local Government and Traditional Affairs