Samwu once again distances itself from violence in the metro

Samwu maintains it has not sanctioned any strike in Tshwane over the past month that has seen the Capital City flare-up in violence.

Gauteng provincial secretary Mpho Tladinyane said Samwu had noted with concern the sporadic acts of violence within Tshwane, however, that it was not to blame for the endless destruction since July 24.

“The union condemns these acts of violence which seek to undermine the legitimate demands by workers and we reiterate that our members are, and have always been, at work.”

Tladinyane claimed Tshwane was dragging its feet in resolving the salary increase impasse between itself and employees, which in turn created an opportunity for criminal elements to hijack the noble demands of workers.

“These are our members who have been targeted with the tools of trade which our members should be using to deliver services to residents.”

He said the municipal workers were also residents of Tshwane and had no interest in interrupting service delivery, as they were similarly affected.

“We have, however, warned the metro that its mishandling of the impasse will have severe consequences for Tshwane and employees given the conducive environment created for opportunists.

“Mayor Cilliers Brink should just swallow his pride. Pay workers what is due to them. The time is now for the mayor to put aside his pride, political ambitions and instructions and do right by workers.

“We once more implore the mayor to reconsider the decision to review the SALGBC ruling at the Labour Court.”

Samwu was addressing the media on September 14, after violence and destruction the previous day had left Tshwane in a chaotic mess, with several trucks and a bakkie torched, an employee hospitalised and bus services grounded.

The strike action is due to worker unions Imatu and Samwu fighting with the Tshwane metro over annual salary increases.

In July, Tshwane employees became furious when they saw their payslips which did not factor in the 5.4% salary and wage increase they were supposed to receive, leading to violence erupting and a march on July 26.

The metro has claimed the increases would cost it R602-million and that it could not pay it.

The failure to increase salaries violates an agreement local government – metros and municipalities – represented by Salga, made with worker unions in 2021 when the parties agreed to a 5.4% increase year-on-year for three years.

On August 10, the metro applied for an exemption from the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) so it would not give its 29 000 employees an increase this year, however, the application was denied on September 10.

It has subsequently planned to go to court soon, as the conflict escalates.

Tshwane metro condemned Wednesday’s “thuggish, violent, brazen, shameful, deeply saddening, angering and shocking” attacks on its assets.

The mayor has since urged the city manager and metro police chief to urgently engage higher spheres of government to intensify its investigation into the crimes and make the necessary arrests.

Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said a truck assigned to the Tshwane asset protection monitoring unit and a water tanker were torched outside the Prince’s Park depot in Pretoria CBD along Nana Sita on the corner of Charlotte Maxeke and Es’kia Mphahlele streets.

“The tanker had just drawn water from the depot for delivery to Region 4 informal settlements. The driver was physically assaulted. Fortunately, he managed to escape serious injuries.

“Two members of the unit were taken to hospital with injuries. They are responsible for the protection of city assets such as the depots and substations. At the time of their ambush, they were monitoring the depots.”

The two trucks were torched along Kgosi Mampuru between Pretorius and WF Nkomo streets, however, the drivers luckily escaped without injury.

Bokaba said the drivers would undergo therapy at the wellness clinic following these traumatic incidents.

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