Tshwane issues 41 letters of dismissal to striking Samwu workers

Workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) have downed tools in what the city has deemed an illegal strike.

The municipal workers downed tools last week to protest various issues, including the non-payment of salary increases.

Workers are demanding 3.5% and 5.4% salary increases, an amount which Brink said the city cannot afford.

Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba says the city will also approach the Labour Court on an urgent basis to enforce an interdict that was granted on Friday last week.

"The striking workers were interdicted and restrained from performing any acts of destruction of the City of Tshwane's property and any private or public property, or from performing acts of intimidation to any of the city's employees.

“The city manager has issued multiple ultimatums to the striking employees to return to work and to desist from intimidating their non-striking colleagues.

“The striking employees have disregarded the court order and therefore are guilty of contempt of court; hence the city has resolved to approach the Labour Court again today for the enforcement of the interim interdict, which will empower the police to arrest the striking employees and the Samwu leadership," said Bokaba.

Bokaba says striking workers are holding residents to ransom by continuing to prevent their colleagues from performing their duties.

"The majority of the employees report for duty but are being prevented, intimidated, and victimised by their striking colleagues from executing their duties.

The city has put in place recovery plans to address the backlog resulting from the illegal strike action. 

Turnaround times for attending to interruptions will be delayed due to the intimidation of employees,

A total of 15 employees have since been arrested and charged with public violence.

They are also facing internal charges.

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