The Tshwane EFF has accused the DA-led coalition government of lacking the political will to resolve the impasse between the striking workers and the municipality.
On Thursday, the red berets took to the streets demanding the reinstatement of over 100 workers, salary hikes to be implemented and security guards to be insourced amongst other things .
Tshwane leader, Obakeng Ramabodu said the metro has money to pay workers however there is no political will to pay the salary increases.
“The councillor of this council must vote that all the workers must be reinstated but also they must be paid their salaries. We are of the view that there is no political will from the side of the DA to pay these salaries because the DA has brought a report to a deputy mayor where we will have to spend R15 million. So they are not the people who don’t have money. It is an issue of political will.
“The DA is not interested. They want to be an enemy of the workers. You can’t be an enemy of the workers and expect services so we are glad that these workers have responded. This is just the start of the program of action,” he said.
Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink decried the EFF protest saying “violence and disorder” are associated with the party’s brand.
“Unfortunately, as it has happened at the last council meeting, we have got EFF councillors who are trying to disrupt the council, violent protests on the outside, rocks being thrown at the police, chaos, violence and disorder all of the things that are associated with the EFF brand.
“But we won’t be deterred. We continue to represent the residents of the city making the responsible decision to secure service delivery and the future for all of our people,” said Brink
Tshwane workers affiliated to South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (Imatu) had been on strike since July for salary increases that the municipality has said it cannot afford to implement.
The City of Tshwane has pleaded poverty while workers want it to implement the collective agreement that gives them a 5.4% salary increase.
At the same time, Tshwane Council approved the appointment of senior Section 56 managers and this was welcomed by Brink.
The selected candidates will occupy the following roles once job offers have been sent and accepted:
- Chief of Police
- Chief of Emergency Services
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Operations Officer
- Chief Audit Executive
- Group Head: Strategy and Management Support
- Governance and Support Officer
