Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Chris Makhaye
Published on 2024-03-15 10:27:31
The eThekwini Municipality in South Africa found itself in a state of chaos resembling Ground Zero after a three-week wildcat strike by the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu). The strike led to allegations of sabotage and protests by frustrated residents who were left without basic services such as water and electricity.
During the strike, rubbish piled up in the streets, sewage flowed freely, and many areas went without water and electricity for days. Residents resorted to dumping their refuse on landfill sites due to the lack of collection services. The strike, which began on 27 February, was sparked by workers demanding salary adjustments comparable to those in other metropolitan municipalities. Incidents of violence, including the assault of a municipal worker in Umlazi, further escalated the situation.
Mayor of eThekwini Mxolisi Kaunda took action against the striking workers, with 88 employees being dismissed, 81 on precautionary suspension, and 1,781 facing notices of misconduct. The municipality obtained a court interdict to prevent further violence during the strike. Samwu, representing over 10,000 of the city’s workers, suspended the strike while negotiations with the municipality, the KZN government, and the national government were underway.
Residents in Phoenix and Verulam took to the streets to demand action from Kaunda, as they had been without water for days. The situation reached a breaking point, leading to protests at the Durban City Hall where police used force to disperse the crowd. Political parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) became involved, with the DA calling for Kaunda’s resignation due to the ongoing crisis in service delivery.
In the midst of the chaos, Kaunda apologized to the residents for the disruptions caused by the strike and assured that contingency measures were in place to restore basic services. The strike highlighted the deteriorating state of the city, with academic Bheki Nkwanyana describing it as reaching its “lowest point” due to a combination of factors including the impact of COVID-19, riots, and floods.
Allegations arose that the strike was exploited by various groups for political gains, with claims of involvement by the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party and potential criminal elements. While the MK party admitted to supporting the striking workers, they denied any involvement in destructive acts. The aftermath of the strike left the city struggling to recover, with a long road ahead in restoring services and rebuilding trust within the community.
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