The mayoral committee is yet to decide on workers’ demands, with striking employees saying they expect neither Mayor Diphala Motsepe, nor Municipal Manager Advocate Bheki Khenisa, to budge.

They also accuse Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane of “turning a blind eye,” despite the premier insisting negotiations must go ahead.

According to the striking workers Mayor Motsepe is of the opinion that those of them who cannot afford to reside in Middelburg, should move to Doornkop, while Advocate Khenisa “doesn’t care about our dirty stinking township”.

They called on “concerned residents” to join the total shutdown and said that they would engage with businesses and opposition parties ahead of the mass protest, to garner further support.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Ms Anna-Marth Ott bluntly said that the chamber will offer no support to striking employees. According to Ms Ott the strike, which has reached its six weeks mark, had already impacted businesses negatively.

“Businesses like Columbus are always willing to assist the municipality with machinery and skill, like when the Gholfsig substation exploded, and a huge valve had to be replaced on a water line,” Ms Ott says.

“These employees are living in a fool’s paradise, Covid-19 has ravaged businesses who cannot afford a month long strike,” Ms Ott says.

She said that the chamber conducted a survey among its members in relation to service delivery and the striking workforce’s demands, “and the results are not in their favour”.

According to the survey, 40% of business owners tried and failed to access emergency services during the strike.

A total of 57 businesses said that the closure of the licensing department negatively affected their financial standing, with one business incurring more than R200 000 worth of additional expenses to get their fleet up to date.

Businesses tied to mines responded that their vehicles aren’t being allowed on site, due to expired licenses.

Altogether 60% of respondents said they will not be willing to pay additional waste removal fees, in order to secure pay hikes for striking employees.

Almost 35% of respondents said they have been waiting months for building plans to be signed off, despite the ongoing strike.

Businesses also said they would oppose any further property tax hikes.

“We denounce the economic sabotage and urge striking employees to return to work and appreciate what this town is giving them through exceptionally hard times,” Ms Ott concluded.

Middelburg Mall Manager, Mr Mike Tammadge, said that while the impact of the ongoing strike hasn’t had a devastating effect on businesses in the mall, a total shutdown would definitely “harm us”.

He said that during previous protests, like the taxi violence over routes, during which workers weren’t allowed to leave Mhluzi and other areas, “60% of businesses in the mall were affected by closures”.

“Businesses have it hard already, we cannot afford any further economic hurdles,” Mr Tammadge echoes the chamber’s sentiments.

The DA said it was willing to negotiate with striking employees, but will not support a total shutdown.