Greenest town goes to the dogs
Several areas in Middelburg have rising piles of refuse bags on street corners after solid waste workers embarked on an illegal strike last Tuesday.
The workers downed tools demanding the municipality to stop outsourcing services.
Their illegal strike escalated on Monday when they marched to the civic centre causing services to be halted until October 1. The next day unemployment structures and political parties also picketed outside the municipality.
The different organisations all made different demands during the protest.
Other protesters also blocked major roads in Mhluzi with burning tyres and rocks on Monday and Tuesday.
According to Municipal Manager, Advocate Bheki Khenisa, the workers are demanding that the municipality upgrade their post grading to level 6. This means municipal rates will have to be increased to pay their salaries.
He also added that the illegal protest is led by an unrecognised union that is politically affiliated.
An alternative waste collection service was appointed to collect refuse bags in case of strikes, however, the contract was withdrawn because of backlash.
The municipality has since applied for an interdict against the workers.
