South Coast Fever

Threat to block N2 amidst RNM strike

KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, said should Ray Nkonyeni Municipality not find a solution before January 31, the department will have no choice but to implement further interventions.

If Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) does not solve the labour unrest it currently faces, community members will block the N2 from Boboyi due to a lack of services.

Inkosi Sazi Ndwalane told the Cogta MEC, Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi, that he received a letter from community members telling him they plan on blockading the N2 because of the ongoing strike in RNM.

At the time, Buthelezi was convening a meeting with ratepayers, business representatives, traditional leaders, trade unions, and the leadership of RNM to resolve a three-month-long workers’ strike that has crippled service delivery.

Inkosi Ndwalane said instability in RNM was caused by the municipal leadership.

He told Buthelezi that should his department fail to suspend RNM’s municipal manager, Khetha Zulu, there will be unrest throughout the Ugu district.

“On Monday, I received a letter from community members saying they want to block the N2. The N2 plays a big role in building the economy of this municipality. It is the first time I have seen a municipality struggle with such a problem for three months without a solution when there is a municipal manager and a council for stability. A decision was taken by the council to pay the workers, instead, delays are being orchestrated,” said Ndwalane.

The dispute between the municipality and its employees stems from an arbitration award related to back pay and the regrading of workers after the 2016 merger of Izinqoleni and Hibiscus Coast municipalities to form Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.

Meanwhile, Inkosi Themba Mavundla said the ongoing strike is a health hazard.

He said urban and rural areas under RNM are infested with flies.

“I would like to find out who in the municipality received the money and how they received it; what were the criteria for choosing people who will receive their money because something here does not add up. There is an element of unfair labour practice and discrimination here. What is painful is that this strike does not only affect the municipality, it affects the community at large,” he said.

He added that RNM is now riddled with flies and mosquitoes, which is a health risk.

Mavundla said the strike also impacted the Christmas programmes for the elderly, disabled and children, which are overseen by the municipality in areas under the traditional authority.

He said in December 2024, there were no Christmas programmes.

Buthelezi said the municipality could have handled the matter with greater diligence to avoid a complete shutdown.

He said some aspects of the situation could have been better managed, adding that they want the municipality to meet with the workers and come up with an amicable solution before January 31.

“Should this not occur, the department will have no choice but to implement further interventions,” he said.

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