Five-Week Wage Strike, Legal Battles, and Sacking of Shop Stewards Highlight Deep-Seated Issues at the North West Parks and Tourism Board
A Gauteng News Investigation, By Divinity Mokgwatshane
Mahikeng, North West – The once-vibrant North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) is currently embroiled in a deep crisis, marked by a five-week-long wage strike, allegations of unfair dismissals, and a history of financial mismanagement and leadership instability.
This Gauteng News investigation gets deep into the series of events that have led to this disorderly situation, drawing on exclusive insights from an NWPTB employee and recent legislative actions.
Years of Salary Delays Fuel Employee Discontent
The current labour dispute is not an isolated incident but rather the culmination of years of frustration over the untimely payment of salaries. According to an NWPTB employee, the issue of late payments first surfaced in March 2022. Initially, these delays were primarily experienced towards the end of the financial year. However, the frequency and severity of these delays have progressively worsened. In the current financial year, employees faced salary delays for approximately four months.
The impact of these inconsistent payments has been devastating for the employees. “Just like any employee, if there are no salaries, life stops,” the source explained. “We have to pay debts, buy groceries, transport to work, etc. Also, stop orders failed to go through and accumulated bank charges due to no funds.”
Adding to their distress, there was a consistent lack of communication from management regarding the reasons for these delays, except for a notification in January 2025. Promises made in the past, including a 2022 assurance from the then-CEO, Ms Thami Matshego, to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) that salary delays would cease, were ultimately broken. This year, the situation escalated, with employees also facing double deductions in subsequent months due to bounced debit orders.
Strike Action and the Pursuit of Legal Authorisation
Faced with persistent salary delays and a lack of communication, employees began to consider collective action. On January 21, 2025, NEHAWU officially notified the employer and the CCMA of their intention to strike. This initial notice was met with silence from the Acting CEO, Ms. Charlene Jacobs, and the Chairperson of the Board, Adv. Tshidi Mogale. A second notice was sent on February 21, 2025. Under South African labour law, the CCMA grants the right to strike if the employer fails to respond to the initial notification.
The union meticulously followed all required CCMA processes. Discussions regarding picketing rules took place on March 7 and 11, 2025, with management representatives. However, the Acting CEO at the time refused to sign the agreed-upon rules. Finally, on March 14, 2025, the CCMA issued the strike certificate, legally authorising the industrial action.
Beyond the immediate issue of late salaries, the strike was also fueled by the employer’s failure to honour a collective agreement on salary increases, the non-payment of gratuity as per a Board resolution, and the lack of progress in addressing disparities arising from the merger of the North West Tourism Board and the North West Park Board.
Five-Week Strike and Allegations of Unfair Dismissals
The wage strike commenced on February 20 2025, with full participation from employees at Heritage House, including members of both NEHAWU and the Public Servants Association (PSA). The company’s response, according to the insider, was swift and punitive. “The entity never engaged with the union; they only suspended employees, took their money with no process, and even terminated some employees’ contracts,” the source claimed. Management consistently maintained that the strike was illegal, despite the union possessing a valid strike certificate.
In March 2025, the NWPTB began implementing partial salary payments, unilaterally deducting days from employees’ paychecks without prior communication. The company cited the alleged illegality of the strike as the reason for withholding full salaries.
Threats of job losses were also reportedly circulated through internal WhatsApp groups, with sanctions being applied without formal disciplinary processes. To date, the NWPTB has reportedly suspended two union members, implemented a “no work, no pay” policy for twelve employees, and terminated the employment contracts of seven shop stewards stationed at the Madikwe Game Reserve.
The board justified these dismissals by citing a court interdict obtained by lodge owners at the Madikwe Game Reserve due to the disruptions caused by the strike. NEHAWU has condemned these dismissals as retaliatory and has vowed to pursue legal action for the reinstatement of the fired employees.
Legislative Intervention and Scrutiny of Mismanagement
The escalating crisis has drawn the attention of the North West Legislature, with the Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism taking a firm stance. The committee summoned former members of the NWPTB board on April 10, 2025, to account for the persistent governance and financial challenges.
This meeting followed previous failed attempts to engage with the former board in February 2025. The committee’s investigation was prompted by concerns raised by an internal memo from former Acting CEO, Ms. Charlene Jacobs, warning of potential salary payment failures in January 2025. MEC for DEDECT, Hon. Bitsa Lenkopane, also provided insight into the entity’s dire financial situation.
The legislature’s scrutiny has also uncovered a concerning pattern of instability in the NWPTB’s senior management. Since September 2024, the entity has seen a questionable rapid turnover of acting CEOs:
- The then-serving CEO was suspended in September 2024 and remains suspended.
- A new Acting CEO was appointed from October to December 2024, but their contract was terminated.
- The subsequent appointee in January 2025 resigned after just two weeks.
- A Board member was then appointed as Acting CEO, but their contract was also terminated in January.
- The fifth acting CEO assumed the role in mid-February 2025 and is currently serving.
This constant change in leadership has undoubtedly aggravated the existing challenges and eroded employee morale.
Financial Crisis and Allegations of Mismanagement
The North West Legislature has reported that the NWPTB lacks sufficient funds to pay employee salaries for February and March 2025, attributing this to huge shortfalls in revenue collection. Former acting CEOs who appeared before the legislature corroborated these financial difficulties, highlighting the entity’s reliance on advance payments from the department.
Allegations of financial mismanagement have also surfaced, including claims that R7 million was directed towards the annual Mahika Mahikeng music festival in December, potentially under the MEC’s instruction. The union argued that these funds could have been used to ensure timely salary payments.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for a comprehensive forensic investigation into the NWPTB’s financial affairs, citing long-standing issues of mismanagement and potential corruption.
Current Impasse and Uncertain Future
As of early April 2025, the seven dismissed employees had not been reinstated. NEHAWU has given the Premier a seven-day ultimatum to respond to their memorandum demanding the reinstatement of the workers and the resolution of other grievances. The union also organised a provincial day of action on April 4, 2025, directed at the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Employees believe that a government bailout is necessary to address the NWPTB’s financial woes.
The ongoing crisis has greatly impacted the NWPTB’s operations and reputation, particularly at the Madikwe Game Reserve, where the strike led to disruptions and a court interdict. The North West Legislature has voiced concerns about the instability and its negative effects on the functionality of the parks and the entity’s image. MEC Lenkopane has acknowledged the adverse impact on tourism. The NWPTB declared a state of emergency in response to the strike, deploying additional security resources.
An Outcry for Accountability and Urgent Reform
The future of the North West Parks and Tourism Board remains uncertain. The employees are demanding the resolution of their grievances, including the reinstatement of their dismissed colleagues. The legislature is intensifying its oversight, and allegations of financial mismanagement are under scrutiny. The outcome of the union’s ultimatum to the Premier and the legislature’s continued investigation will be critical in determining the path forward for this troubled entity.
The employees’ message is clear: they are deeply disappointed in the leadership and believe that urgent intervention is needed to restore stability and ensure the proper management of the province’s vital tourism and conservation assets.
Also read: Gauteng Water Crisis: Governance Failures and Corruption Create a Vicious Cycle, Says IRR
