Municipal Manager, Advocate Bheki Khenisa, told www.mobserver.co.za that waste is currently being collected by a service provider that usually handles the municipality’s illegal dumping.

Adv. Khenisa said the Mpumalanga Premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, is in talks with the municipality to try to understand the workers’ grievances. Adv. Khenisa also added that negotiations with workers are still underway, and the strike could end before Friday, depending on how negotiations with management over the workers’ grievances proceed.

Workers downed tools a month ago, demanding the municipality stops outsourcing services and upgrades their post grading from Level 4 to Level 6.

Their illegal strike escalated last week when workers marched to the civic centre, 11 workers were arrested during the protest for contravening a court interdict.

Last week local businesses Blue Ribbon and Qembu Motors availed two vehicles and hired trailers to assist in rubbish removal. The companies also approached unemployment forums to hire extra hands.

The DA was also instrumental in the clean-up project.