MUNICIPAL contractors gathered outside the Water and Sanitation Depot in Pinetown on Friday (October 9) to protest over outstanding wages, with some claiming they have not been paid for three months while others say they are still waiting for payments dating back to last year.

The small group of protesters guided by police officers said they had been promised payment on Friday, but the money had not reflected in their accounts.

“We were told we were going to get paid today, but nothing. Others have payments pending from last year, and the last payments were made in April,” said contractor Nomcebo Majola.

Majola said the situation had worsened following the appointment of new companies to work alongside the contractors, leaving some workers without employment.

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“They have now hired new companies that we are supposed to work under, but 50% of us are sitting at home. They don’t hire us,” she said.

She also raised concerns about grading, claiming that some contractors who had worked for years remained in the same grade while newly appointed workers from outside the area were placed in higher grades.

“For 10 years I have been working under the same grade, but there are people coming from outside who were recently hired and are in higher grades than us,” Majola said.

She said the contractors were demanding payment for the work they had done, adding that many had families to support and debts to settle.

“Municipal workers get paid every month, but we have not been paid for months. It is not fair,” she said.

Ward 18 councillor Melanie Brauteseth also raised concerns about the ongoing dispute, warning that tensions at the depot were affecting water infrastructure and residents.

Speaking from Scott Street, Brauteseth said the city was already losing a significant amount of water and expressed concern about the impact of damaged infrastructure and disrupted maintenance.

“Today we’re in Scott Street, once again. We are losing water at 65% already in the city,” she said.

Brauteseth alleged that meters had been opened, contributing to further water losses, and questioned the City’s response to the contractors’ repeated demands for payment.

“What is the City doing? Where are the promises that were made? What is happening to those negotiations?” she asked.

She added that the recurring disputes needed to be resolved, warning that damage to depots and restricted access for plumbers could prevent essential maintenance work from being carried out.

“We cannot have this constant damaging of depots and denying access for plumbers to actually service the city. It’s got to end.”

This is an updating story, we will update with the City’s comment once received.

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