Tshwane officials ‘held hostage’ by striking municipal workers

The revenue management department’s executive director and acting chief financial officer were on Wednesday allegedly briefly held hostage in their Tshwane municipal finance offices by 50 protesting employees.

According to mayoral spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi, the meter-reading workers’ demands included being appointed on a permanent basis and receiving a danger allowance.

The demonstration left scores of residents who wanted to pay their accounts or buy electricity stranded.

Protesters said they were tired of being ignored by management, citing how dangerous their working conditions were.

“We don’t have security in case something bad happens,” 49-year-old Matome Maponya said about the job. Maponya delivers notices of  final demand and does meter readings at households across the city.

“People [set] their dogs on us and sometimes we even get electrocuted.”

Maponya said the strike was prompted by their soon-to-end contracts.

The protesters said their action would continue until Mayor Solly Msimanga addressed their demands.

But Mgobozi on Wednesday said: “The matter is before the acting city manager and we’ll make pronouncements in due course.”

He said those who made themselves guilty of criminal acts would face the might of the law.

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