No fruitful agreement has been reached and striking employees say that MEC Ndlovu also did not commit to a level 5 salary upgrade for employees, which would result in the immediate suspension of the strike.

Workers are also dissatisfied with the fact that the MEC’s office says it cannot intervene by lifting suspensions and disciplinary procedures against 16 municipal employees, while Cogta plans to instate an interim Municipal Manager from outside.

A lot of misinformation is being peddled, employee representative, Sipho Masimula, says.

He says a “miscommunication” led to “false reports that a level 5 upgrade had been approved by the MEC”.

“We got nothing and further negotiations with the MEC will lead nowhere, we want Cooperative Governance Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to come here and address the deadlock,” Mr Masimula says.

Mr Masimula also confirmed that only one employee, Tshepo Maseko of the municipality’s electrical department had passed away after Wednesday’s civic centre shootings.

“The second death as reported by Mpumalanga police is incorrect, I visited the victim in hospital and he’s thankfully alive and recuperating.”

The victim, who was shot in the back, currently has no feeling in his lower legs, despite some feeling returning to his upper legs.
“We hope and pray for his full recovery,” Mr Masimula says.

Employees urge MEC Ndlovu to rethink the deployment of an interim Municipal Manager, saying “there’s four other executive directors, apart from Ms Thokozile Zulu, who can be rotated in the position until a permanent appointment has been made”.

Employees have indicated that they would prefer former Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Mandla Mnguni, for full time Municipal Manager.

“He has heart and we trust him, he has a sterling track record and was a respected leader, why waste more time?” Mr Masimula says.

Workers still demand the immediate resignation of both Ms Zulu and Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela.
“We don’t see how any council sitting to address our grievances can be in good faith with the current mayor presiding.”

On the information that the EFF would table a motion of no confidence in the mayor at the next council sitting, Mr Masimula said “its high time for the DA to redeem itself for the mistake they made with the election of the mayor”.

The strike will continue until worker’s demands are met, including the reinstatement of suspended leaders.
“Its about fairness.”

Currently, municipal executives earn level 6 salaries, with level 5 salaries already approved for councillors.
Employees, who have been waiting for an upgrade since 2018, remain on level 4.

“Clearly the balance is off, we will return to work today if the administration give us what we deserve”.