Illegal strike turns Durban into a dump
Many residents had no water for days after infrastructure was sabotaged
Almost two weeks of an illegal strike have turned the streets of Durban into a health hazard, with piles of waste left uncollected and residents without water or lights.
eThekwini municipal workers affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) embarked on protest action over salary scales on February 27.
After protesters became violent, locking down main roads in the city, starting fires and intimidating workers with batons, the city went to court. On February 29, the striking workers were slapped with an interdict to desist.
Despite the order, the strike intensified, leading to infrastructure damage amid speculation that the union was being manipulated by a political faction bent on seeing the ANC-led municipality fail. Despite repeated requests, Samwu KwaZulu-Natal did not respond to queries. One inquiry was about reports that national leaders had instructed them to end the strike.
Terri MacLarty, chair of the Umhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association, said the situation in northern areas had turned into a crisis. Waste was piling up on the roads, forcing residents and businesses to make their own plans to have it removed.
“People are now forced to pay about R20 or R30 for each bag to be taken by private guys, which in itself might worsen the existing problems. I’m told that they drive to dumping sites outside the city,” MacLarty said.
“To me that’s a concern on its own, because people are desperate and paying these guys but we don’t know where they are taking the rubbish. When you drive around, you can see that it’s bad. In some areas rats are poking through plastic, and dogs tear them apart. That leaves dirt all over the streets.”
The strike had a significant effect on people’s lives, causing serious health issues, MacLarty said. Large parts of the north, west and south of Durban had no water for days after strikers allegedly destroyed valves at several reservoirs and sabotaged pipelines.
She said the majority of residents in Umhlanga had been without water for more than a week, with many forced to buy it as there were no water tankers.
Asad Gaffar from the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement called for an urgent meeting with the city on Friday to protect ratepayers from “totally unacceptable prejudice”.
“Given the gravity of this situation and in the absence of a foreseeable resolution ... we want to explore alternative measures to protect the rights of our members and residents in the city,” Gaffar said.
“Some people are keeping the rubbish in their yard, but others don’t have much space. People who stay in flats don’t have a choice but to throw it onto the streets. It’s a serious health risk. We had serious rains last night [Thursday] and it’s very hot today [Friday] so obviously that would cause maggots. The water from the streets flows into rivers and subsequently to the ocean, so you can imagine the water quality and the dangers of coming into contact with that water.”
Gaffar said with eThekwini now regarded as a hotspot for a pink eye outbreak — there was a surge in infections from 161 to 1,044 in three days with most cases reported in eThekwini — hygiene was crucial. The number would increase as many areas don’t have water.
eThekwini councillor Mzamo Billy said the city was a “health ticking time bomb” after a visit to Chatsworth in the south of Durban.
Striking workers have been shooting at other workers for going to work. According to an affidavit from eThekwini legal services senior manager Lindani Nxumalo, “There are voice messages directing individuals with clear threats of violence. An employee was shot in the Wyebank area.”
The ongoing strike has affected public health-care facilities around the city. At Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital doctors and nurses battled without electricity and water for three days. Hambanathi clinic in the north of Durban and Craigieburn on the south coast have been temporarily closed
People are being forced to pay R20 or R30 for each bag to be taken by private guys
Terri MacLarty
Umhlanga ratepayers association chair
because of the strike.
KwaZulu-Natal health department spokesperson Mdu Ncalane said: “It’s back to normal now, it was sorted around 1am or 2am on Thursday. The workers were guided by the police. We had been using power generators, which is why we were not too alarmed by the issue. We would have a crisis if there was a failure of the generators.”
Ncalane said should there be more problems, theatre operations would be moved to Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Hospital.
The city served 79 employees with notices of misconduct on Thursday for participating in the strike — they have 10 days to make submissions on why they should not be dismissed — and 13 union members were arrested for public violence.
“Since last week, the intimidation and attacks on non-striking employees have resulted in the city not being able to respond to faults and restore basic services such as water, refuse collection and electricity across the city. However, the city remains committed to urgently reinstating services such as water and electricity, while addressing security threats posed by vandalism and intimidation of staff, and infrastructure sabotage,” the city said.
On Friday the city opened four landfill sites for residents to drop off domestic waste. –