Two City of Tshwane vehicles were torched on Wednesday as the protest for salary increments by aggrieved workers rages on.
Some Tshwane employees downed tools demanding that the City implement the 2021 South African Local Bargaining Council (SALGBC) collective agreement which would see the workers receiving a 3.5%, 4.9% and 5.4% salary and wage increase for years 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
The Metro lost its bid to get exempt from implementing the salary hikes and vowed to take this decision on review.
The City of Tshwane spokesperson, Selby Bokaba said two of its vehicles were torched allegedly by striking workers and two employees sustained injuries during the attacks.
“The City of Tshwane can confirm the torching of two of its vehicles by striking employees.
They were torched outside the Princess Park Depot along Nana Sita (westbound) Charlotte Maxeke and Es’kia Mphahlele streets. The water truck which belongs to the city had just drawn water from the depot for delivery at some Region 4 informal settlements when it was set alight,” said Bokaba.
“The driver was physically assaulted and managed to escape. Fortunately, he didn’t sustain serious injuries. The bakkie, which was also torched along the same precinct as the truck, belongs to the city’s Assets Protection Monitoring Unit.
“Two members (employees) were injured and taken to hospital. The members are responsible for the protection of the city’s assets such as the depots and substations. At the time of their ambush they were busy monitoring the depots,” said Bokaba.
The City of Tshwane has dismissed 123 striking workers and given another 7 workers at its bus service department letters of intention to dismiss.
Imatu regional chairperson, Melita Baloyi called on the city to implement the salary hike.
“As Imatu we are pleading with the employer to consider paying all the increases that are due to the members and also paying all Imatu members their salaries for August and to recall all the dismissed workers back to employment,” said Baloyi.
