THE striking eThekwini municipal workers have been told to report back to work or lose their jobs. This was said by Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda on March 5 as he asked the City administration to take all the necessary steps to ensure that employees engaged in the illegal strike return to work or face dismissal.

Also read: Illegal municipal strike continues

Waste removal, clinics and water and electricity provision have been affected by the strike as there is no one to respond to call-outs. Illegal dump sites have mushroomed, and in some cases, residents and businesses have been forced to contain refuse inside their properties. The staff not on strike have found it hard to work as there has been intimidation and malicious damage to public property.

“The City remains committed to urgently reinstating services such as the provision of water and electricity while addressing security threats posed by infrastructure sabotage. Communities that have been without water and electricity for several days are bearing the brunt of this unlawful strike action. Patients have also sadly been unable to access healthcare,” said Kaunda.

While it is understood that the staff are striking in demand of more pay, Kaunda said no memorandum had been received from the South African Municipal Workers Union.

Also read: Municipal staff on wildcat strike disrupt Isipingo

Ward 97 councillor André Beetge said a suggestion has been made that municipal bills be paid in line with previous usage until actual bills circulate.

“At this point, there is absolutely no intelligence to confirm any threat to civilians, private property or the invasion of residential areas. It is a strike aimed at disruption of municipal services to the point where they are hoping the municipality will heed their demands, based upon the discomforted outcry from the citizens,” said Beetge.

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