Municipality interdicts striking workers

PHOKWANE Municipality has obtained an urgent interdict against unidentified employees who are involved in disrupting municipal services and service delivery, while workers continued with the shutdown in Hartswater yesterday.

Workers have shut down the municipal offices in defiance of an order that was pasted at the entrance of the municipality on Tuesday.

The notice that was signed by the acting Phokwane municipal manager, Zithulele Nikani, advised workers to return to work by 8am today as they were engaging in illegal strike action.

Workers were warned that they could face disciplinary steps and dismissals if they did not comply.

Workers embarked on strike action last week in support of the suspended municipal manager, Matshidiso Mogale.

According to the interdict the workers have to allow the public immediate access to all of the premises, buildings and offices of Phokwane Municipality as well as the satellite premises, buildings and offices situated in Ganspan, Jan Kempdorp and Pampierstad.

Workers have been prohibited from preventing any municipal employee, member of municipal management, member of the municipal council and member of the public in any way whatsoever from entering such premises, buildings and offices.

They have also been interdicted from interfering with service delivery and daily activities of the municipality or preventing any employee from conducting their duties.

The workers may not incite any violence on the property of the municipality.

The court has also ordered the workers to pay the legal costs of the interdict.