Water strike ends swiftly
During the strike some plant and equipment infrastructure was vandalised which compromised water supply to some critical areas.
DISRUPTION to water supplies was kept to a minimum after local utility, Mhlathuze Water on Wednesday negotiated the end to a strike that had started on Monday morning.
Information had been received that employees based at the City of uMhlathuze’s municipal water and waste water treatment plants had embarked on an unprotected strike.
Mhlathuze Water had taken over these employees when the utility started managing, operating and maintaining the plants belonging to the City on a month-to-month contractual basis.
The Chief Executive Officer, Sibusiso Makhanya with his officials immediately engaged with the representatives of SAMWU notifying that the strike was illegal and that the utility was not given prior notice as per the provisions of the Labour Relations Act.
Formal notification was submitted to the union leadership requesting the employees to return to work.
Affected by the strike was infrastructure owned by the City of uMhlathuze and managed by Mhlathuze Water at Ngwelezane, Empangeni, eSikhaleni and Nseleni.
During the strike some plant and equipment infrastructure was vandalised which compromised water supply to some critical areas, with the operations and maintenance team working round the clock to minimise the impact.
Further engagement with the City of uMhlathuze, SAMWU Leadership and Mhlathuze Water Management resulted in the employees returning to work on Wednesday morning.
‘Employees based at Mhlathuze Water-owned installations including the Nsezi Water Treatment Plant did not participate in this strike.
‘Bulk Water and related services to the City of UMhlathuze supplying to Richards Bay and Empangeni industries were as a
result not impacted by the strike action,’ said Makhanya.
