WATCH: Police fire rubber bullets as Germiston council protest escalates
Public urged to avoid CBD as MECSU strike enters 10th day and mayor skips scheduled address.
Tensions flared outside the Ekurhuleni city council chambers in Germiston on Tuesday afternoon, 25 September, when the mayor failed to address protesting Municipal Employees and Civil Servants Union (MECSU) workers as promised.
The city had assured employees that the mayor would speak to them at 2pm, but no address was made.
ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni strike: MECSU protests disrupt city services, court orders issued
As workers began moving toward the exit, police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
WATCH HERE WHAT HAPPENED:
@bedfordview.edenv Chaos erupted outside the Ekurhuleni council chambers after the mayor failed to address striking MECSU workers. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, while authorities urged the public to avoid the Germiston CBD as the strike entered its 10th day. #EkurhuleniStrike #GermistonProtest #MECSU #ServiceDeliveryCrisis #WorkersRights
MECSU secretary-general Vukile Mlungwana said the union views the city’s delay as an “insult to workers” and vowed to return until their demands are met.
Authorities have advised the public to avoid the Germiston CBD as the strike enters its 10th day.
Workers blocked the exit to stop executives from leaving, demanding that the mayor address them.
It is anticipated the protest will continue tomorrow, September 26.
