Maritzburg’s woes grow as strike continues

Durban - Essential services in Pietermaritzburg have ground to a halt as a strike by temporary employees at the Msunduzi Municipality rages on.

Late on Wednesday the municipality obtained an interim interdict against the striking workers.

Acting municipal spokeswoman, Nqobile Madonda, confirmed that in terms of the urgent interim interdict granted by the Pietermaritzburg High Court, protest action by the disgruntled workers was illegal.

Workers have been instructed to return to work and have been directed not to interfere, threaten or intimidate employees who choose not to join the strike.

But workers who have been camping outside the municipality’s Doull Road depot for the past three nights, told the Daily News they would not return to work and would “cripple all services” until their demands were met.

The main bone of contention is the refusal by the municipality to make temporary workers permanent. Some workers say they have been working for the municipality on a temporary basis for more than a decade, and promises of permanent posts have never materialised.

On Wednesday, hundreds of irate temporary workers marched through the city, disrupting traffic and throwing uncollected refuse that has littered the city pavements since Monday into the roads, in the way of motorists.

Overflowing bins were also overturned as workers descended on city hall in Church Street where they demanded to meet municipal manager, Mxolisi Nkosi.

Nkosi addressed the crowd and explained that their protest action was unlawful and that the situation was beyond his control. This enraged protesters further, who demanded that council use “their millions” to pay the workers and stop exploiting them.

Meanwhile, residents have been warned not to expect essential services complaints to be dealt with over this period. Refuse will go uncollected, and water and electricity faults will not be attended to as permanent workers have been prevented from entering their work premises.

Burst

pipes have been reported in Mountain Rise, Lincoln Meade as well as the city centre and continue to flood roads and gardens. Some of the affected areas have been without water since Tuesday.

Madonda urged residents to be patient. While no acts of sabotage had been reported, she encouraged residents who witnessed criminal activity on the part of strikers to report to the police. “If strikers are found to be behind any vandalism of municipal property or any sabotage, proper disciplinary action will follow. Workers must engage with council constructively if this situation is to be resolved speedily,” she said.

Daily News

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