UPDATE: Traffic CBD cleared as protesters await late meeting
Samwu member bus drivers abandoned their buses at major intersections in the Pretoria CBD, causing traffic congestion.
Protesting municipal workers were even more frustrated following a Monday afternoon meeting with the Tshwane acting mayor.
“We attended the meeting and had discussions; however, nothing panned out,” said South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) deputy general secretary Dumisani Magagula.
Magagula said the workers demanded an 18% increase.
“We gave Tshwane officials options on how to implement the increases. We even explained how we have handled similar matters in other municipalities in the country.”
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Tshwane mayor says CBD protest action is ‘wrong’ and ‘illegal’
Acting mayor Abel Tau reportedly told Samwu leaders that he had to discuss these options with the mayor and mayoral committee.
Magagula said they were “not going anywhere” and would wait for Tau to get back to them at a meeting scheduled for 18:00 on Monday.
Protesters have since dispersed to await the outcome of the 18:00 meeting.
ALSO READ: NEWSFLASH: Pretoria CBD gridlocked as municipal workers’ strike bites
Magagula said further plans regarding the protest would be discussed after this meeting.
This follows chaotic traffic in the Pretoria CBD because of the Samwu protest march.
On Monday morning, Samwu member bus drivers abandoned their buses at major intersections in the Pretoria CBD, causing traffic congestion all over the city.
Their strike started last week Thursday.
After wage negotiations between the union and council reached a deadlock, the strike intensified on Monday morning.
Samwu general secretary Koena Ramotlou said, “we cannot be held accountable for mistakes done by senior managers”.
“We are asking them to give us a fair increase of 18 percent because that’s what is due to us.”
A Re Yeng and Tshwane Bus Services operations were suspended until further notice.
Samwu vowed to shut down the city until workers’ demands were met.
Samwu regional secretary Mpho Tladinyane addressing the angry crowd said: “If senior managers and divisional heads could get paid a particular increase as permanent employees, we are also entitled to that amount of money.”
“The only thing we expect the executive mayor to tell us is when workers will get their money. Any other thing, we are not going to allow or accept,” Tladinyane said.
Both A Re Yeng and Tshwane bus services were suspended on Monday.
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