Water depot invaded
"The divisional head made a promise to officially open the depot in November 2015. November 2015 came and there was no opening."
A newly built water and sanitation depot in Baxa Section was forcefully occupied on January 13.
The regional deputy chairman of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU), Mr Zwelithini Xaba, said the depot was built in 2011 and finished in 2013.
He said since it was finished, they had not moved into the building.
Mr Xaba said water and sanitation employees were forced to work under hazardous health conditions in the old building.
“The water and sanitation depot at 308 Isiziba Section is rented from the roads department.
“After several meetings between SAMWU and water and sanitation management in the Ekurhuleni municipality, there was an agreement that a new depot was going to be built,” said Mr Xaba.
He said it was also agreed that all departments must have their own depot.
“In July, the union and water and sanitation management approached the divisional head of water and sanitation operations to inquire as to why the new depot is not open, despite its completion.
“The divisional head made a promise to officially open the depot in November 2015. November 2015 came and there was no opening,” said Mr Xaba.
He said the union went back to Boksburg and told the head office that they were going to enter by force.
“They halted our plans by instructing us to stop the forced entry and they said they would come and meet us, which did happen.
“The contractor was called and keys to the building were handed over,” he said.
He said chief engineer Dumisani Tembe said employees will occupy the building at the end of November 2015.
“When we inquired in January 2016, we were told the contractor took back the keys. The contractor says there’s an outstanding amount owed to him by the municipality. That is the reason why today we implemented the resolution of entering this building by force,” he said.
Workers said this was victory for abasenzi (workers).
“The previous depot was a pig stall and it posed serious health hazards. We took over the building and the contractor will sort his issue out with the municipality,” Mr Xaba said.
He said they have moved their equipment into the new building already and they will remain in the building while the union will call a meeting with the head of department of water and sanitation to discuss the matter at hand.
“No vandalism of the building was done, we just broke the padlock,” he said.
The contractor could not comment due to protocol he needs to observe.
“The workers have moved in and the building is in use. There are still issues with contractor payment which we are processing,” said Mr Themba Gadebe, the spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM).
