Cape Town — The eThekwini municipality have fired 88 employers and placed a further 81 on suspension, while nearly 2 000 received notices of misconduct for their actions during the illegal strike.
The unprotected strike started on 27 February and was led by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU). eThekwini mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, said the municipality was working to restore basic services and that disciplinary hearings for the 81 suspended workers were set to take place form 13-18 March, The Witness reported.
Kaunda said the strike not only crippled service delivery city-wide, it was also accompanied by violent acts of criminality, which have resulted in the loss of life and injuries to some of its staff members. The strike has seen the city face a massive service delivery backlogs, including electricity faults, water interruption and refuse removal.
According to SowetanLIVE, Kaunda said police were investigating the death of a municipal worker and the attempted murder of two others that happened during the two-week strike.
eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda says negotiations with Samwu have resumed and most striking workers have returned to work. Kaunda held a briefing on the current state of affairs in the metro. @Karinda_J has more details. pic.twitter.com/4pmhqFM7XB
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 13, 2024
“We trust that the police will speed up the investigations so that perpetrators of this crime are brought to book. As the leadership of the city, we have strongly condemned these incidents and have asked the law to take its course on those who are implicated.” he said.
He also assured ratepayers that the end of the strike was imminent, as most of the workers return to work on Monday.
Thirteen eThekwini workers that were arrested last month for inciting public violence and damaging essential infrastructure, were released on R2 000 bail each. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the matter would return to court on 10 May for further investigation, EWN reported.
“The charges relate to an incident that occurred on 04 March 2024, where they allegedly blocked the road with rocks and rubbish and burned tyres and bins. The state is also alleging that they damaged municipal bins and Durban Solid Waste (DSW) fencing,” added Ramkisson-Kara.
Residents in Phoenix also took to the streets to demand restoration of water and electricity, as many have gone days without either. Metro Police Spokesperson Boysie Zungu said chaos erupted on Tuesday night in Westham, Phoenix, with vehicles being stoned.
“Approximately 300 people blocked off roadways and burned fires. POP [Public Order Police] used force to remove the crowd and stabilise the area. The roadway is open now and traffic is flowing. Police officers are still in the area to ensure there is no other disturbance.”
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
