Residents visiting the Boksburg Civic Centre say they are increasingly frustrated as a long-running labour dispute between the City of Ekurhuleni and striking contract workers continues to disrupt access to municipal services, with no clear resolution in sight.

While acknowledging the workers’ right to protest, residents say the municipality has shown little urgency in resolving the dispute.

Ongoing strike action
For more than six months, contract workers, including cleaners and security guards, have been staging protest action outside several municipal offices across the metro, including the Boksburg Civic Centre.

The workers, affiliated with the Municipal Employees and Civil Servants Union (MECSU), are demanding permanent employment and an end to outsourcing.

Complaints
Among the main concerns is the loss of convenient parking. A spacious parking area in front of the civic centre has been allocated to protesters, forcing visitors to seek limited space near the library or old town hall.
As a result, some residents must walk considerable distances to access services, an added challenge for elderly visitors.

Residents say that those who are unable to find proper parking often resort to using any available space, only to return from the offices to find parking fines issued by municipal wardens, effectively punishing ratepayers who are simply trying to access municipal services and keep their accounts up to date.

Residents and staff have also raised concerns about persistent noise from vuvuzelas and whistles, which they say disrupts normal operations.

City silent, union responds
The Boksburg Advertiser approached the City of Ekurhuleni for comment earlier this month and followed up several times, but no response had been received at the time of publication.
MECSU secretary-general Vukile Mlungwana said some progress had been made in talks, but key demands remain unresolved.

“Engagements on the insourcing of security guards and cleaners have not yet been finalised,” he said, adding that the strike will continue until this demand is met.
“Our strike is not directed at residents but at the employer. It is incumbent upon the city to resolve the matter in the interests of service delivery.”

He maintained the protest is peaceful and respects the rights of the public.

However, late in January, a group of individuals identified as protesting members of MECSU allegedly left the Boksburg Civic Centre in a ‘shameful’ state after reportedly defecating and urinating at the covered entrance of the municipal offices. Garbage was also dumped on the premises. The union distanced itself from these claims.

Billions allocated, but no resolution

Despite billions reportedly allocated for insourcing, contract workers remain outsourced, fueling a strike that continues to frustrate residents.

The strike began on September 11 last year after the city allegedly failed to implement a council resolution on insourcing.

In addition to insourcing, the union is calling for permanent employment of contract workers, salary adjustments for EMPD officers, and the absorption of qualified traffic wardens into constable positions.

No end in sight
With negotiations at a standstill, residents remain caught in the middle as they continue to face disruptions when accessing essential municipal services.

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