Tshwane security guards threaten to disrupt services
Hundreds of security guards have threatened to disrupt municipal services in Tshwane.
They are demanding permanent employment from the City of Tshwane.
The outsourced security guards marched to the City of Tshwane head offices on Monday, demanding mayor Solly Msimanga hire them and increase their wages.
Strike leader, Austin Mofya, says some workers have been retrenched and are adamant they will not back down on their demands.
"The City of Tshwane has terminated workers’ contracts. All these workers are expected to be insourced, but as we speak the damage has been done. Some workers are due to be retrenched and others have already been retrenched,” Mofya explains.
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Msimanga's spokesperson, Samkelo Mgobozi says the City cannot afford to renew the contracts.
"We are aware of the protest action by security guards. We closed the City's finances last year with a R2 billion deficit. It is simply unaffordable to renew this contract. We are not opposed to the absorption of the security guards, but we will only be able to absorb some based on the City's needs," Mgobozi says.
General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) organiser, Themba Ncalo, encouraged striking security guards to disrupt municipal services.
"We must march and disrupt licencing centres until Solly comes down and talks to you. The struggle must be escalated. There is no struggle without causalities. Some of us will be hurt along the way and that is the price we must pay."