Tarka water strike ends
A STRIKE by water and sanitation workers employed by the former Tsolwana municipality was resolved by early Wednesday.
While the details of the reason for the strike were not clear this week, it was believed to be related to calls for temporary workers to be made permanent. The strike started last Monday with water services being disrupted from Friday.
The water affairs of the former Tsolwana municipality, which has since been included in the new Enoch Mgijima Municipality, falls under the jurisdiction of the Chris Hani District Municipality.
Members of the public this week told The Rep of intimidation, saying they had been told that their houses would be burnt down if they removed sandbags thrown down manholes or tried to return the water services to an operational state. A water pump was also allegedly damaged, with the cable being cut over the weekend.
CHDM spokeswoman Thobeka Mqamelo said water personnel responsible for services in the Tarkastad, Hofmeyr and Ntabethemba areas had embarked on a protest related to human resources issues. The protest impacted negatively on service delivery in the areas, with CHDM management engaging with workers.
An amicable solution to some of the issues raised was found while others were a “work in progress.”
She condemned “any acts of intimidation or vandalism to infrastructure that is set up to service the community.”
She said such acts of vandalism were currently receiving the attention of CHDM and that the district authority “would not hesitate to take action against any worker that is found responsible.”
The water service was expected to be fully operational from Wednesday.
DA councillor Carol Boast confirmed that the party would lay a charge of vandalism with the police as a result of the damage to the pump, which will cost in the region of R100000 to replace.