The Tshwane metro has ensured the detention of an additional 11 employees on public violence charges.

This brings the total number of persons arrested for public violence to 15 since Tuesday.

On the day, four employees were arrested outside the city’s Region 4 offices in Centurion and detained at the Lyttelton Police Station on charges of public violence.

They appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning and were released on bail.

City spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the employees have also been served with a notice of intention to suspend. “They are also facing three internal charges pertaining to gross misconduct, malicious damage to property and breach of the employment contract.”

Bokaba stated that these charges were served on the employees while in police custody.

More arrests

A further 11 persons were arrested outside Tshwane House during a South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) march.
They have been detained at the Pretoria Central Police Station.

Bokaba said the city will verify if the arrested are employees, and if so, they will also face the same fate as their four colleagues who were arrested in Centurion.

The 11 are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court soon.

“A video footage and photographs gathered during the Samwu march are being analysed to identify employees who deliberately disregarded the city manager’s instruction,” Bokaba added.

Identified employees will be subjected to disciplinary proceedings.

Ultimatum issued

On Monday, City manager Johann Mettler issued an ultimatum to employees to refrain from embarking on the unprotected strike action.

“The employees were further warned against damage to property and unacceptable behaviour.”

Meanwhile, the following city buildings were temporarily closed following intimidation by the striking employees:

• Rosslyn Clinic
• Karen Park Clinic
• Hercules Clinic
• Folang Clinic (staff and patients were forcefully forced out of the building)
• Lyttelton Clinic
• Mabopane Block X Customer Care Walk-in-Centre
• Mabopane Regional Office
• Soshanguve Block F Customer Care Walk-in-Centre
• Ga-Rankuwa Customer Care Walk-in-Centre
• Rosslyn Customer Care Walk-in-Centre
• Middestad Customer Care Walk-in-Centre
• Sammy Marks Customer Care Walk-in-Centre
• Drive-Thru Licencing Centre on Nana Sita Street

Tshwane clamps down on illegal striking employees pic.twitter.com/wuXpESuQnA

— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) July 27, 2023

“The city stands firm and is resolute in its endeavour to dismiss employees who continue to misconduct themselves and ignore the lawful instructions of the city manager. The city would like to commend the law enforcement agencies for acting swiftly by arresting those that committed crimes.

“We hope this will serve as a deterrent to those who are planning to commit acts of misconduct and crime,” Bokaba concluded.