Striking municipal workers in Tzaneen continued their destructive behaviour on Tuesday burning tyres, disconnecting water and electricity supplies and trashing rubbish bins in town, leaving streets littered with garbage.
The town and its surrounding areas including Magoebasloof and George’s Valley were left without water by the strikers on their rampage.
Enraged residents described the actions of striking municipal workers as hooliganism and acts of terrorism reminiscent of the past.
Police are accused of watching the workers damaging properties without taking action saying they are waiting for instruction from the municipality.
From Monday, the workers, mostly members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) were protesting over salary disparities.
They are demanding that pay disparities in the municipality be addressed as a matter of urgency.
It is alleged that striking workers man-handled and intimidated non-striking workers into joining them.
Municipal spokesperson, Neville Ndlala said the leadership of the municipality agree with the union representing the workers that salary disparities must be addressed but differ in terms of the approach that must be employed in arriving at a solution that is both sustainable and reasonable.
“We are considering all available avenues to bring a speedy resolution to the dispute and we are hoping that regular services will resume as soon as possible. Members of the public will be updated on regular basis. We will do our best to ensure that the strike does not inconvenience you as our valued customers,” said Ndlala.
Ndlala said management and the union representatives have agreed that essential services will continue unhindered as stipulated in the Labour Relations Act.
He urged residents who might find it difficult to access the municipal pay points for water and lights to use Easypay outlets such as Pick n Pay, Shoprite and Checkers, as well as banking institutions and online banking payments systems.
He added that during the strike the principle of “no work no pay” will be applied. The chairperson of Samwu in Tzaneen, Victor Manyama could not be reached for comment.
