Police arrest defiant municipal strikers “camping out” at the civic centre
Four striking municipal employees were arrested shortly after 23:00 last night at the civic centre, where they have been “camping out” in defiance of warnings to leave the premises.
It has been confirmed that “groups of striking employees” stay at the civic centre overnight.
They are also there throughout the day, barring the public and other municipal employees reporting for duty, from accessing the municipality. The employees were warned to leave the premises, especially after hours, but the warnings were ignored.
Police pounced on the “campers” around 23:00 last night, arresting them for trespassing. Vehicles were also impounded.
Neither Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela nor Municipal Manager Bheki Khenisa could be reached before publishing.
According to sources within the municipality, contracted security guards stationed at the civic centre, are in cahoots with the strikers allowing them to “camp” on site.
Workers are also drinking in the parking area throughout the day.
There’s been no formal communication from the municipality on how the authority is handling the present strike, the third strike since September last year.
Office workers have been told to stay home.
