AS THE Vryheid Herald went to press on Tuesday this week, AbaQulusi Municipality had effectively been closed by strike action among its workers. On Monday and Tuesday, workers were seen gathered at the entrance to the municipal head office building in Mark Street, and lounging on the lawns of the adjoining municipal garden.
There was also a strong police presence evident.
Municipal services were unavailable to the public – the cash office was closed, the library was closed.
It is believed to be a continuation of an unresolved issue. Municipal workers went on an unprotected strike in February and March this year, believing that they had not been paid money due to them in the form of a 14th cheque. It was also rumoured at the time that AbaQulusi municipality had been given R2-million to settle the issue, but that this money had “disappeared”.
In March, municipal workers “trashed” the town, invaded and trashed the municipal offices and sabotaged the water supply by inflicting damage to the water pipes on the Vryheid Hill reservoirs.
The workers returned to work in March after being advised that the principal of “no work, no pay” would apply, and that they were the subject of an interdict from the Labour Court.
