A task team has been established to deal with the ongoing “illegal and unprotected industrial action” by eThekwini Municipality workers, affiliated with South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), who have brought waste collection as well as service delivery to a standstill through violent protests, since last week.
The illegal strike, which started on 27 February, has resulted in many cases of public violence and damage to infrastructure being opened at several police stations in eThekwini. This after the protests allegedly led to power outages, waters shutdowns and road obstructions in some parts of the city.
“We have observed with great concern the attacks of the city employees at service delivery sites. Some have been shot while attending to service delivery complaints. A number of water and sanitation, electricity infrastructure including vehicles, have been damaged or completely destroyed. From now henceforth, the government will no longer tolerate the atmosphere of fear, trespassing on premises and forceful removal of staff from their work posts, denial of patients their rights to gain access into healthcare facilities, including vandalism of critical infrastructure such as water and electricity,” said KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
In a joint briefing on Monday, 4 March, with the leadership of eThekwini, Dube-Ncube said that communities who have been without water and electricity for several days, are bearing the brunt of this unlawful strike action.
“The municipality is currently conducting an assessment on the impact and financial implications of the strike. We want to assure the residents of eThekwini that consequence management will be applied to all workers who participated in the illegal and unprotected industrial action. The city wants to emphasise that all spheres of government are working together to resolve this challenge. We remain resolute to maintain the rule of law, ensure safety and security of all law-abiding citizens while we find an amicable solution to this issue,” said Dube-Ncube.
According to Lieutenant Colonel S Rohith of Phoenix SAPS, no arrests have been made after municipality workers proceeded to illegally strike on Greenbury Drive in Phoenix, recently.
He said: “A group of approximately 100 municipality workers had gathered opposite the electricity depot where they burnt a wooden reel on the road. They were in the process of burning a second one, however, SAPS and Metro distinguished the fire. After engaging with the union representatives and trying to pacify the workers, they refused to listen. Public Order Police were called to assist and the necessary force was used to disperse the crowd. The road was cleared for public use. No injuries sustained or reported.”
Speaking to the Phoenix Tabloid, DA MPL, Bradley Singh, condemned the strike action saying that municipal officials are causing disruptions by overturning trash and blocking access to depots, hindering residents by barricading roads with sand and using municipal vehicles.
“The ongoing issue of burst water pipes remains unresolved, exacerbating a water crisis. Additionally, a substation failure over the weekend has left residents without electricity for hours, as repair personnel are reportedly reluctant to work due to safety concerns. The situation under the governance of the ANC has led to a collapse of city services, leaving residents to navigate one crisis after another while eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, is notably absent during these challenges.”
Chairperson of the Joe Moloisane (eThekwini) region, Siyabonga Dladla, stated that the strike developed after information that workers of the municipality were earning less than employees of Ekurhuleni and Tshwane municipalities.
He said: “It cannot be correct that we are being called a metropolitan based on duties but when it comes to paying workers, the metropolitan status does not apply. We have done our own analysis and research and we have seen that these municipalities graded their pay categories differently to eThekwini.”
Dladla said they have hoped that these salary-related issues would be resolved before election day on 29 May. Meanwhile, the city manager, Musa Mbhele, has issued circulars advising all staff members that consequence management shall be implemented as the strike action is illegal and unprotected.
“To this end, the principle of ‘no work, no pay, no benefits’ will apply,” said Dube-Ncube.
She added that they are also requesting additional technical expertise from state law enforcement agencies and intelligence, particularly on water infrastructure and health services.
