Gauteng municipal workers protest over unpaid salaries

Smoke billowed in the sky as dozens of tyres were piled up and burnt outside Emfuleni Local Municipality headquarters in Sedibeng, Gauteng, over unpaid May salaries this morning.

The protest comes after the cash-strapped municipality’s bank accounts were attached by Eskom and Rand Water due to its failure to pay the debt owed.

Thousands of employees came out in their numbers, singing and chanting at the municipal offices in Vanderbijlpark in the presence of a high police contingent before burning tyres.

All roads leading to the municipality were closed with debris and rocks by protesting workers.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Thabiso Mokoena said they have been promised to be paid, however, no amounts have been transacted into their accounts since the 25^th.

“We are sick and tired of this back and forth between the municipality, Eskom, and Rand Water. Each time they have problems, employees suffer the most. All we want is our money, not stories,” he said.

Another employee, who didn’t want to be named, said they spent a weekend in the dark because of non-payment of salaries.

“Our livelihoods are at risk. We own cars, houses, and other important things that need to be paid for each month. With the municipality not paying us and not communicating when we will be paid, it really leaves us vulnerable. We came out in our numbers to show our outrage and want nothing but our May salaries,” she said.

South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) Sedibeng Regional Secretary Rhau Mphahlele said: “Workers will definitely be paid today (Monday). There was a delay on the side of Rand Water, but the matter is sorted now”.

Despite several media inquiries sent to the municipality’s communications department on the matter, at the time of publishing, no comment was issued.