Striking employees of the eThekwini Metro will face serious consequences. That’s the warning from KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
Workers affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) downed tools last month demanding an adjustment of their salaries to match those employed in other metros in the country.
Dube-Ncube and eThekwini Metro Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda held a joint media briefing in Durban to give an update on steps taken to mitigate the impact of the strike action.
It’s been a week since thousands of eThekwini employees embarked on an unprotected strike action. The strike action has resulted in the non-collection of refuse in many areas across the city.
Water and electricity infrastructure have also been affected, leaving many areas unable to access basic services.
Dube-Ncube says any worker found to be participating in the strike will face disciplinary action.
She adds that those involved in illegal action such as threatening workers on duty will be criminally charged.
“Consequence management will be applied to all workers who participated in the illegal and unprotected industrial strike and we will leave no stone unturned in terms of dealing with those that are responsible,”
The municipality says it has roped in private companies in an effort to try and minimize the impact of the strike.
Talks are also under way to request additional deployment of police from national government.
“We will be using all kinds of technology to identify the culprits and we can’t tolerate this behavior from our workers to continue in the city as it has happened. So, we are targeting by end of this week, we want stability in every aspect of work that the city is expected to do,” says Kaunda.
Kaunda says the city is still assessing the financial impact of the strike.
Meanwhile, representatives of SAMWU say they will not comment on the matter for now as they are still seeking a resolution to the impasse.
