Workers at Sedibeng Water who have downed tools in three provinces will return to work on Monday. The water authority services a number of municipalities in the North West, Free State and the Northern Cape and their dispute have left towns such as Mahikeng and Bloemhof without water. Despite the intervention of Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo, taps ran dry again this week, much to the disappointment of residents.
“I think the Sedibeng people are being unfair because they do know that we cannot survive without water,” a concerned resident says.
“I came here at the shop at mega city to drink water …I mean it is unfair, it’s too bad,” another concerned resident added.
“We are not happy to stay so long without water, we need water to cook, to bath,” a third resident explains.
The parties have now gone back to the drawing board and the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) says Sedibeng Water management made a commitment to implement an Amanzi Bargaining Council agreement.
“We further like to pursue our members to report for duty on Monday and supply our communities with an uninterrupted supply of water. We also want to apologise to our communities and promise that as long as the employer is committed to respecting the collective bargaining, there will not be any interruption of water,” says Oiloa Mofokeng, the unions representative.
VIDEO: Sedibeng Water workers down tools over late wage payments:
