Unprotected strike cripples service delivery
Leon Garbade says that the DA has again approached the office of the MEC for Cogta, Thulasizwe Buthelezi to intervene and immediately suspend the municipal manager and take over the negotiations.
No changes to service delivery are expected anytime soon, with Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) workers still on strike.
A second special council sat on Tuesday this week, but the media was not allowed in since it was held ‘in committee’.
A private truck was set alight outside Oatlands landfill site in the early hours of Tuesday. At this stage, it is unknown whether it was deliberately burnt or it caught fire.
Currently, service delivery at RNM is non-existent.
RNM’s DA caucus chairperson, Leon Garbade, said in a statement also on Tuesday that the ongoing unprotected municipal strike has intensified and escalated violently.
“The DA recognises the workers’ right to strike but strongly condemns acts of violence. We are thankful that nobody was injured. The municipal leadership deficit continues the same trajectory of failure, and as of today, all negotiations have failed, and the municipality is now turning to the courts to try and bring about an end to this unprotected strike.”
Garbade added that the DA has, once again, approached the office of the MEC for Cogta Thulasizwe Buthelezi to intervene and immediately suspend the municipal manager, Kheta Zulu, and to take over the negotiations.
The spokesperson for RNM, Simon April, said he can not comment on behalf of the municipality because he is not sitting in the meetings.
However, a statement was released by Zulu, who said although the protest has been on and off and with minimum disruptions until the last two weeks, it has been a difficult time in which everyone has had to endure the indignity of inconsistent refuse collection and general littering, causing an environmental and health risk to all communities.
“Furthermore, the deliberate disruption in power supply has had a significant negative impact on businesses and residents.”
He added that the matter between the two parties is before the courts, but also engagements continue between the employer and organised labour to explore possible solutions.
Furthermore, he said that employees are not giving any of these platforms a chance and instead crippling the municipality’s ability to continue providing services.
Community leaders and business owners led by Selvan Chetty say that the new developments materially change the conditions of engagement toward resolution.
“It is noted further that this is an unlawful strike and, therefore, an unprotected one. In these circumstances, we call on the leadership of the municipality and the workers’ unions for engagement that will lead to the immediate suspension of the strike action, return to work and resumption of all municipal services.”
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