Samwu threatens mass action
MASS action and service delivery interruptions across the province and country were imminent, the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) warned yesterday as about 1 500 municipal workers from across the province marched from King William’s Town to Bhisho.
Although the number of marchers fell short of the 5 000 to 10 000 expected by Samwu, afternoon traffic in King William’s Town came to a standstill as singing and toyi-toying protesters, many wielding knobkerries, sticks and planks, made their way from the Victoria Grounds through the centre of town to the premier’s office near the legislature.
The union marched to Bhisho with a list of demands that included the filling of all vacancies, the implementation of a fourteenth cheque which had been promised as a one-off payment to compensate workers for being paid on incorrect salary scales, a review of the job evaluation system and a halt to the outsourcing of municipal functions.
The workers jeered when they were informed that Premier Noxolo Kiviet was unavailable to receive their list of demands and that education MEC Mandla Makupula would take her place.
“This is the last time we are handing a memo to him or any other person except the premier,” roared Samwu provincial secretary Simphiwe Ndunyana, adding that Samwu had been barred from marching into the legislature.
Ndunyana said the union was “gatvol” of unfilled vacancies, corruption and the privatisation of municipal services and that the march marked the start of mass action including sit-ins, go-slows, marches and strikes, which would affect service delivery in all municipalities across the province.
“We are tired of the outsourcing of cleansing and water services, security and debt collection.
“The ratepayers are suffering as a result of this privatisation. It is unfortunate that service delivery will be interrupted because the public has a right to receive services, but workers have a right to receive what they deserve.
“There will be blood on the floor and we will not stop [mass action] until these demands receive a proper response.”
The memorandum demanded the implementation of a fourteenth cheque “in order to help restore the value of our pay”, the immediate review of the employment of Section 56/57 managers [municipal management] which are “a reward for political loyalty” and an immediate moratorium on the unilateral restructuring of municipal services which, according to the memorandum, benefitted municipal budgets at the cost of service delivery.
Addressing the marchers, Samwu national deputy general secretary Walter Theledi congratulated provincial Samwu members for “kicking off” mass action, which is expected to be followed by nationwide strikes.
“They [government] have made it clear to us that they are not prepared to discuss anything to do with monetary issues.
“We said, ‘we will meet you on the streets’,” said Theledi.