JW Samwu workers’ strike drowns Region E

Many suburbs across Region E found their residences floating into the month of March in the wake of a water burst coinciding with a strike by Johannesburg Water’s (JW) South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu). Reports of the strike began circulating on February 26, although the motive behind the strike is yet to be made clear.

Ward 104 councillor Lynda Shackleford explained on March 2, how residents became aware of slowed activity from JW over the February 23–25 weekend period.

“There were some exceptionally large bursts across Region E. We then found out that Zandfontein North and South depots both had gone onto strike,” Shackleford said. “We were not given the exact reason for the strike – it was kept internal. This caused quite a lot of delays. As councillors, we were told to keep escalating and reporting where dangerous or major bursts were, to let the depot know.

“I believe that there were at least three to four areas that were isolated for a few days. Not in my ward. I had some big issues, but not to the point where we had to isolate.”

Shackleford explained that isolation simply means that the burst is of such a nature that the loss of water is too great, and they have to isolate. To the best of her knowledge, the strike action by JW Samwu members was over by March 1.

“I was aware that they were back on the ground from Thursday (February 29) late-afternoon, going into the evening, and definitely back in full force on March 1, on the ground working,” said Shackleford.
“The biggest area [affected] in my ward was a very large leak underground on Marika Avenue bordering Morningside River Club. This was attended to yesterday (February 29).”

However ,swiftly as the situation was handled, communities were left high and dry wondering what’s going on. Ward 91 councillor Andrew Stewart admitted to having had very limited information on February 28, in the mid of it all. “The only information we have is that the strike continued today, but Johannesburg Water management is hoping to resolve grievances as soon as possible.”

JW had been contacted on February 27, towards gaining an understanding over the strike action as the story was developing.

“Samwu-affiliated employees of Johannesburg Water’s Zandfontein depot are currently on strike. This is impacting maintenance work in the Sandton area, which is serviced by this depot. This is causing delays and compromising service delivery,” said JW spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala in her response on February 28.
“The Sandton system supplies water to the majority of Region E, including Alexandra, Wynberg, Sandton, Lombardy East, and Houghton. Johannesburg Water’s management and the union are currently in discussions to resolve the labour dispute. As part of contingency plans, the entity has appointed contractors to perform priority repairs and maintenance on the network.”

Wards 91 and 104 weren’t the only parts of Region E impacted by bursts coinciding with the Samwu strike. Ward 102 councillor Lucinda Harman shared several videos from her communities, particularly Blairgowrie, where water streamed wastefully.

“The Zandfontein depot strike was intolerable this week – burst pipes and no water,” Harman recalled in her response on March 1. “Worst hit was Blairgowrie; no water and burst. A Bryanston house was flooded; huge water loss, yet residents are told to use water sparingly.”

Samwu was contacted for their side of events on March 1, and again on March 4, but no comment had been forthcoming by the time of going to print.

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