Service delivery at Tswaing Local Municipality in Delareyville town in North West has been severely disrupted this week. This is after members of the South African Municipal Workers Union protested demanding their bonuses, which culminated into the holding hostage of a Chief Financial Officer on Tuesday.
SABC reporters at the municipal offices say workers were sitting while others were milling around in anticipation of being addressed by management.
At the same time, some members of the community were streaming into the offices only to be returned by protesting workers.
Along the main street passing town, refuse was left unattended due to the protest.
South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) Secretary in the municipality, Thabang Chachu, says since they are still awaiting answers to an already submitted memorandum which includes lack of protective clothing.
“We have been trying to meet with the leadership of the municipality and they have not shown up to this far. We have made all kinds of efforts to try and meet them, but they are not coming to the party and the stand (sic) for Samwu is that we will not return to work until all the demands of the employees are met.”
Some of the municipal workers say there are irregularities on the financial system of the municipality.
“By July, we are suppose to get an increment, but when you look at your payslip there is no increment,” said one frustrated employee. “Every time when we’re supposed to go to the hospitals for check-ups or go to the doctors you will be sent away because there is no money in the medical aid where else (sic) in the payslip it is there, ” added another striking employee.
However, Municipal Manager Manoto Moruti says Samwu did not follow the correct protocol to raise their matter.
“I wanted to make them understand that we need to take those issues to the local labour forum where all the unions are represented because those issues are genuine issues, but I want to start on the correct footing of addressing issues of union.”
Meanwhile, some of the community members are now feeling the pinch of the ongoing protest of the municipal workers. However, the municipality says, all essential workers were on site rendering service to the community.
