Fire at Centurion municipal offices
Protesters blocked the entrance to the Centurion municipal offices on Basden Avenue with a fire barricade, further delaying services in the region.
A large plume of smoke rose from the Centurion municipal offices’ Basden Avenue entrance on Thursday as protesters’ made a fire barricade.
Firefighters were battling the blaze as a fire broke out at what appears to be a metro services depot.
This as an ongoing unprotected strike by city employees over a zero salary increase enters its 18th day.
Ward councillor David Farquharson said that the protesters were getting aggressive.
He advised residents to avoid the area around the municipal offices on Basden Avenue, Lyttelton.
“There are hard-working staff members who are assisting during this illegal strike, but their safety is at risk,” Farquharson told residents.
“Some depots are blocked so services will be even slower.”
He said the protest began on Thursday morning with a fire barricade at the Basden Avenue entrance.
Police and emergency services were on the scene.
This is a developing story.
The Labour Court in Braamfontein granted Tshwane an interim interdict against striking workers on July 28, while Samwu welcomed an order directing Tshwane to implement salary increases within 10 days.
On July 27, the South African local government bargaining council (SALGBC) directed Tshwane to increase salaries by 5.4% as per the 2021 collective bargaining agreement.
The union had written to the SALGBC to ask it to enforce the agreement as per Section 33A of the Labour Relations Act.
The SALGBC order directs Tshwane to implement the increases as follows:
– Salary increase of 5.4% effective from July 1, 2023.
– Minimum wage increase to R9 531.54.
– Homeowner allowance increased to R1 011.77
Meanwhile, the metro took a hard stance, saying it simply can’t afford the increases.
Mayor Cilliers Brink said earlier this month that the council had resolved to apply for an exemption from the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) to not pay any salary increases this financial year.
“In our present financial situation, we simply can’t afford to [increase salaries].”
He said that it would cost in the region of R600-million more if the metro were to grant the salary increases.
“We are here to execute a rescue mission. We want to save the city from financial ruin to be able over time to improve services and ensure the financial sustainability of the city.”
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson, Deputy-chief Charles Mabaso confirmed that firefighters received a call just before 09:00 of a fire at the Centurion municipal offices compound.
He said firefighting resources were dispatched and found that municipal dustbins stored in the compound were burning.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire without any challenges.
Mabaso said that at this stage, the fire’s cause is unknown.
Centurion struggles as slow progress made on service restoration
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
