This comes after five weeks of illegal protests.

100 solid waste workers embarked on an illegal strike demanding a salary increase from the municipality.

The protesters have since contravened a court order obtained by the municipality, they have also intimidated municipal workers and residents at the civic centre, resulting in workers being arrested for public violence and contravening a court order.

A few weeks ago the strikers also drove around town throwing rubbish in the streets and blocking major roads with trash. On Saturday the illegal protesters reached an all-time low when they emptied two water tankers meant for school children at the Kees Taljaard Sports Stadium.

Service providers collecting waste have also been threatened and attacked. Municipal Manager, Advocate Bheki Khenisa, has also been receiving death threats.

The strike has left the scenic town looking like a rubbish dump. Adv. Bheki Khenisa told the www.mobserver.co.za on Monday that senior municipal officials and the Premier of Mpumalanga Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane are still negotiating with the workers to find an amicable solution to the strike.

Adv. Khenisa said the municipality is aware of the striking workers that trying to sabotage municipal infrastructure.

He added that the SAPS has been alerted and several workers have been arrested.