Contracted workers protested outside the Rietfontein Waste Management site on April 17.
Workers gathered in front of the gate, blocking any access into or out of the plant.
The protest is a result of the municipality failing to pay the workers.
Trucks bringing in supplies and materials were forced to turn around at the gates.
One protester, Michael Sama, says: “They keep on promising that they are going to pay us.
“For three weeks we have gone without payment.
“Many of these men can’t afford food to feed their families and some are being kicked out of their rental houses because they can’t pay.
“We will carry on like this until we get paid, I don’t care how long it takes.”
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Police were on the scene in case the protest turned violent.
According to ward councillor Shadow Shabangu, Machine, Moving and and Engineering (MME) was having a meeting on site when the protests started.
“The municipality was supposed to pay them three weeks ago,” says Shabangu.
“The deadline for payment was the 16th, so the workers decided to block the gate to force the municipality to pay.
“I am worried that the unhappiness will escalate into violence and damage to property.
“The municipality knows how much each worker needs to be paid.
“The personal economic impacts on the workers are huge.
“They need to pay bonds, rent and school fees.
“The municipality is also losing money by having all their trucks turned around.”
The protest was peaceful and there were no threats of violence or damage to property.
Despite our having asked for comment for over a week before publishing this story, the metro failed to respond.
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