By Mpho Tladinyane
SAMWU Gauteng Province Provincial Secretary
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) has noted with outrage the reckless, misleading and anti-worker statement issued by former Tshwane Mayor and DA Mayoral Candidate, Cilliers Brink, in which he attacks the intention to reinstate workers who were unlawfully dismissed under the DA-led administration
in the City of Tshwane.
SAMWU condemns in the strongest possible terms Brink’s irresponsible characterisation of these workers as
“criminals”.
This statement is not only defamatory and dangerous, but it also exposes the DA’s deep-seated hostility towards workers and organised labour.
These workers have not been charged, tried or convicted in any court of law.
Brink has no authority to pronounce them guilty or to parade them before the public as criminals merely because they exercised their rights as workers.
It must be placed on record that Brink is not a neutral commentator in this matter.
He is the very person who presided over and defended the dismissal of these employees during his tenure as Mayor of Tshwane.
His latest statement is therefore nothing but an attempt to justify the unlawful and politically motivated actions taken by the DA administration against municipal workers.
As SAMWU, we commend the new administration in Tshwane for being preoccupied with correcting the wrongs that were committed under the Brink DA administration.
The reinstatement of these workers is not an act of lawlessness, as Brink wants the public to believe.
It is an important step towards restoring justice, dignity and fairness to employees who were treated as disposable by an administration that had no regard for workers, their families or the principles of fair labour practice.
We are, however, not surprised by Brink’s posture.
The DA has consistently shown itself to be hellbent on reversing the gains made by and for workers.
Across municipalities where the DA has governed, workers have been met with arrogance, intimidation, victimisation and union-bashing.
The DA’s approach to labour relations is rooted in the belief that workers must be silenced, disciplined and discarded whenever they demand what is due to them.
Brink’s threat that, should the DA return to power, it will reverse the reinstatement of these workers must be understood for what it is, a clarion call to workers and their families to reject the DA at the polls.
There is no place in our municipalities, our communities or our democracy for a political party that views workers as
disposable objects.
There is no place for leaders who criminalise workers without trial and use public platforms to attack employees who have already suffered under an unjust administration.
SAMWU further rejects Brink’s attempt to hide behind the language of “rule of law” while ignoring the unlawful conduct of the DA administration itself.
The rule of law does not mean that employers can dismiss workers unfairly and then brand them as criminals in the media.
The rule of law requires due process, fairness, evidence and respect for workers’ constitutional rights.
The City of Tshwane belongs to its residents and workers, not to the DA and not to Cilliers Brink.
Municipal workers are the backbone of service delivery.
They are the ones who collect refuse,repair infrastructure, maintain electricity networks, operate public transport, keep water flowing and ensure that communities
continue to receive essential services.
They deserve respect, not insults.
They deserve justice, not political persecution.
SAMWU will continue to defend these workers and all municipal workers against any attempt to undermine their rights, dignity and livelihoods.
We call on the City of Tshwane to proceed with the correction of the injustices committed under the DA administration and to ensure that affected workers are reinstated without further political interference.
We further call on workers, their families and communities to take note of Brink’s own words.
The DA has openly declared that, if returned to power, it will once again go after workers.
Workers must therefore use their collective power, including at the ballot box, to reject any political party that threatens their jobs, dignity and livelihoods.
The DA’s anti-worker posture is not limited to Tshwane.
We have already seen its opposition to the PFA in Johannesburg,ancagreement aimed at correctine wage disparities among municipal workers.
Through its actions and public utterances, the DA has proven itself to be an enemy of the working class and a political home for those who seekvto reverse the hard-won gains of workers.
We will not allow the DA, Cilliers Brink or any other political formation to reverse the hard-won gains of workers.
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