Tshwane trucks torched amid strike, two injured
The City of Tshwane says two of its trucks have been torched, allegedly by striking municipal workers.
The vehicles were torched outside the Princess Park Depot along Nana Sita Charlotte Maxeke and Es’kia Mphahlele streets.
The latest incident comes as the city struggles to find a solution to the unprotected strike by workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).
The seven-week-long labour dispute is linked to a dispute over salary increases.
The water truck, which belongs to the city, had just drawn water from the depot for delivery at some Region 4 informal settlements when it was set alight on Wednesday.
A bakkie from the Asset Protection Monitoring Unit was also torched in the same area.
City spokesperson Selby Bokaba says two of their workers were injured and taken to hospital.
"The driver was physically assaulted and managed to escape. Fortunately, he didn’t sustain serious injuries.
"The members are responsible for the protection of the city’s assets, such as the depots and substations. At the time of their ambush, they were busy monitoring the depots."
The strike has led to an interruption in the delivery of services in the city, including electricity outage repairs, water restoration, and refuse removal.
The South African Local Government Bargaining Council has dismissed the city’s application to exempt it from paying salary increases for the 2023/24 financial year.
The city now plans to take the matter on review at the labour court.
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