IN a media briefing held at the Sandton Library on Tuesday, March 29, Johannesburg executive mayor, Clr Parks Tau revealed that 18 members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) were arrested in connection with several criminal offences.
These offences include attempted murder, intimidation, public violence and damage to property in the midst of the ongoing illegal Pikitup strike.
Eleven of the arrested workers were, however, released owing to insufficient evidence.
The remaining seven appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, March 26 and were granted R500 bail each.
Two more people were arrested on Easter Monday in Alexandra and Cosmo City for allegedly attacking non-striking Pikitup workers.
Present at the media briefing were MMC for environment and infrastructure services, Clr Matshidiso Mfikoe, city manager Trevor Fowler, chief of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, major-general Zwelibanzi Nyanda and Pikitup chairperson, Dr Patricia Hanekom.
Clr Parks Tau said it appeared in one incident that residents had had enough of the strike and carried out a citizen’s arrest. “SAMWU shop stewards linked to the strike had been charged with gross misconduct for allegedly orchestrating or inciting their Pikitup colleagues to embark on or take part in the February 4 and 5 strike,” he said.
He said the Labour Court declared the strike unprotected as it did not comply with the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Labour Relations Act.
The mayor added that other workers would from this week appear before the disciplinary committee and charged with gross misconduct for embarking on illegal work stoppages in December 2015, February 2016 and March 2016.
“Law enforcement is also now in full swing to ensure the safety of those workers deployed in various communities for waste collection and clean-up. This is the kind of anarchy that must be halted,” the mayor said.
He urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and to rather call 011 986 9000 or 10111 for police assistance.
The 24/7 hotline 011 286 6009 can be used by residents seeking assistance in waste collection or to request tools for clean-up initiatives. Residents can also log in illegal dump sites on the GPS-linked JRA Find & Fix app on the agency’s website.
Clr Tau thanked residents who took part in efforts to clean up Johannesburg. “Most importantly, I must express my sincere gratitude to the workers and service providers deployed as part of our contingency plan during the service disruptions,” he said.
Source: joburg.org.za
