City of Tshwane Mayor Eugene Modise has promised to pay the much-disputed 3,5% salary increases to the Municipality’s workers.
This after 1000 South African Municipal Workers Union members delivered a memorandum demanding the said salary increase as well as the other outstanding salary increase of 5,3 %.
These salary increase demands also include the demand for the reinstatement of all Municipal workers who were dismissed for taking part in and instigating an illegal, violent strike in 2023 that resulted in damages to the Municipality’s property and prolonged failure by the Municipality to deliver services to the residents of Tshwane.
Before delivering the memorandum to Modise at the Municipality’s headquarters known as Tshwane House, the determined SAMWU members first gathered at the Old Marabastad bus depot on Wednesday morning.
SAMWU Regional Chairperson in Tshwane Lehlohonolo Maphatsoe told Tshwane Talks that Wednesday’s march was sparked by the ongoing unhappiness experienced by Municipal workers regarding the aforesaid demands.
“Remember that in 2021 we entered in to an agreement with the City of Tshwane in talks that were facilitated by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and in terms of the agreement the City of Tshwane was supposed to pay the said 3,5% salary increases in that same year as well as paying another salary increase of 5,4% in 2023,” said Maphatsoe.
He said SAMWU had all along been under the impression that the new ANC-led administration in the City of Tshwane Municipality would adhere to their demands easily but have now realised that the new administration is also giving them “the same arrogance” that former City of Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink gave them.
He also pointed out that the current administration doesn’t provide workers with tools of trade to execute their duties.
“If our demands are not met within the stipulated seven days then we will come back here to Tshwane House if our members mandate us to do so,” he said.
“Politicians can’t be trusted because for them it is all about contracts and their political parties, and now that they are enjoying benefits like blue lights vehicles they no longer have the interests of the workers at heart,” lamented Maphatsoe.
He stressed that the issue of the 3,5% salary increase only requires political will on the part of the Municipality.
He said the problem in the City of Tshwane is that money that is available is spent on lawyers and project contractors instead of being used to benefit, who are the ones who actually generate revenue for the Municipality.
Addressing SAMWU members after receiving their memorandum at Tshwane House, Modise pointed out that the issue of shift allowance system shall be resolved by a committee which will be established by MMC Kholofelo Morodi and will include workers.
Modise also said buildings and property that have been recently reclaimed by the City of Tshwane Municipality will benefit the Municipality’s workers first.
He also said workers will be the first residents of Kruger Park building.
He also urged Municipal workers to register for serviced stands.
According to Modise, the Municipality’s revenue agents will be provided with protection and skills in their jobs.
He also revealed that incorrect grading in the City of Tshwane Metro Police Department will be dealt with urgently.
Another issue that will be urgently looked at is giving pregnant employees the benefits that are due to them in terms of the Labour Relations Act.
Regarding the issue of the dismissed workers, Modise announced that the said cases are not the same and that each case shall be dealt with in its own merits.
Copy of Memorandum: