The City of Tshwane says it will again approach the Labour Court this morning to seek a court interdict against striking workers in the city.

Workers affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) have been on an unprotected strike since the end of last month over their demands for a 5.4% salary increase that was agreed to at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council in 2021.

The city says it doesn’t have the funds for salary increases and has applied for an exemption at the Bargaining Council.

Mayor of Tshwane, Cilliers Brink, says the city can’t afford the escalation of the violence and criminality associated with the strike.

“We really do have to place the pressure on union leaders who have been by the way denying that there is an unprotected strike. They’ve been telling the labour court that there is no such a strike. Last week, we approached the labour court. Unfortunately, we were denied an application for contempt of court. This morning we are in the labour court again with new evidence and hopefully that order will be granted to us. That will enable us and the SA police to act decisively to stop the escalation of this matter so that services such as water tankers don’t in fact get attacked.”

Violence condemned 

Meanwhile, the Tshwane Coalition has condemned acts of destruction and lawlessness allegedly caused by SAMWU members.

The coalition urged both the South African Police Service and the Provincial Public Order Police to play an active role in maintaining law and order, especially when violence erupts.

Coalition Joint Caucus Chairperson, Jacqui Uys, elaborates in the video below: