Acting Municipal Manager, Ms Thokozile Zulu, addressed the media at Rustique, the location of which were only sent out to www.mobserver.co.za an hour before the scheduled press conference.

Ms Zulu addressed Wednesday’s fatal shooting at the municipality where she says municipal employees broke into the premises after learning of her presence inside the buildings.

She was taken to safety in a sleeper vehicle after employees broke down the main entrance gate, allowing her an opportunity to escape unharmed from the back exit.

According to Ms Zulu negotiations with striking employees stalled when employees demanded to represent themselves, instead of their elected union representatives.

She said a threat assessment for the contracting of additional, armed security, had been done before September last year’s two month long strike.

During the strike it became clear that the security services already stationed at the municipality, were in fact toothless against striking employees, and in some instances even in cahoots with them.

Violence and intimidation directed at herself, councillors, members of the public, and ongoing sabotage of infrastructure, necessitated the contracting of PPP Protection and Security Services.

Ms Zulu made it clear that the security company was brought in after police failed to enforce a court order, instructing SAPS members to remove striking employees from municipal premises.

The contract was approved by all political parties represented in council at a council forum.

The municipality issued striking employees with two ultimatums on August 1, and August 15, to return to work, or face suspension.

A total of 39 employees have been suspended since the start of the strike.

Disciplinary proceedings will continue against those charged, Ms Zulu says, adding that the no-work-no-pay policy has been implemented.

Ms Zulu says only one of the two men that were shot and killed on Wednesday, had in fact been employed by the municipality.

According to Ms Zulu Harris Sithole is not on the municipal payroll, while Tshepo Maseko had worked for the authority’s electrical department.

Ms Zulu says the shooting occurred after employees broke down the main entrance gate of the municipality to gain access to the restricted buildings after hours.

Guards initially tried to disperse employees with rubber bullets, leading to the confrontation between the four wounded employees and the guards.

“Employees were definitely armed as well,” Ms Zulu says.

Meanwhile, PPP Protection and Security says there’s also drone footage of the preceding clashes with workers before the shooting, which has not been released.

A 41-year old PPP Protection and Security guard have been charged with two counts of murder and two of attempted murder.