A small mob of about 30 workers belonging to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), are picketing outside the Simbithi main gate on Main Road, Chaka’s Rock.
They said they embarked on a protected strike because they were not happy with the salary increase offered by their employer, Servest.
A man who calls himself S.N. Gumede said they were suffering under tough economic circumstances.
“Everything goes up, but our salaries stay small,” said Gumede.
Servest has a contract with Simbithi to do their landscaping and workers said the protest was not against Simbithi, but Servest.
Gumede said they have been negotiating since March.
He said the average landscaping employee earns about R2 500 per month, which he said was not enough to cover rising cost of rent, transport and food.
“We initially asked for a R700 increase, then reduced it to R500 and then to R400 but all we were offered was R162,” said Gumede.
Servest representatives at the scene were not willing to comment.
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