Wednesday’s unrest in CBD explained
Parts of Commissioner and Market Streets were closed off by traffic police while other parts were closed off by union members with rocks and garbage.
On Wednesday, 10 October, residents were urged to avoid the CBD area near the Mogale City Local Municipality due to protest action by approximately 1 000 South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) members.
Parts of Commissioner and Market Streets were closed off by traffic police, while other parts were closed off by union members with rocks and garbage. The situation worsened when the Red Ants fired rubber bullets into the crowd, leaving four injured.
According to SAMWU Regional Chairperson, Prince Molete, they gathered at the municipality to register a list of demands that includes unresolved wage gaps, outsourcing of municipal services (absorption of Expanded Public Works Programme employees, scholar patrol and private security) and unresolved grievances.
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“The rest of the demands include the filling of vacant posts in all departments, tool of trades and the discrepancy in organisational structure, among other things. We have been struggling for the past two years with these matters,” he said.
The union provided the Mayor with seven days to respond to their demands.
“They must give us an offer that includes the promotion of all our members. They must close the gaps in terms of salaries, we deserve better than this,” SAMWU Krugersdorp Chairperson, Jacob Makomane concluded.
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