Pretoria – The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) has condemned the torching of trucks belonging to the City of Tshwane and denied its members were behind the violence.
“Municipal workers are also residents of this City, they have no interest whatsoever in interrupting service delivery as they too will be affected,” said SAMWU.
A City of Tshwane bakkie, water truck, three water and sanitation trucks, and an A Re Yeng bus were damaged in various violent incidents in the Pretoria CBD on Thursday.
Four of these vehicles were subsequently torched.
At least one City of Tshwane employee was violently assaulted during one of these incidents and taken to hospital in a serious condition.
SAMWU said it “noted with concern” the sporadic acts of violence.
“The Union condemns these acts of violence which seek to undermine the legitimate demands by workers in the City,” SAMWU said.
“We reiterate that our members are, and have always been at work, the Union has not sanctioned any strike action.”
SAMWU added: “We are of the view that by dragging its feet in resolving the salary increase impasse between itself and its employees, the City has created an opportunity for opportunistic and criminal elements to hijack the noble demands of workers.
“These are our members who have been targeted.
“Those are tools of trade which our members should be using to deliver services to residents.”
The union warned the “mishandling of the impasse” will have severe consequences for both the City and employees given the conducive environment created for opportunists.
SAMWU said Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink “should just swallow his pride, pay workers what is due to them”.
Mayor Brink insists the hard-pressed City can not afford pay increases.
The City has dismissed hundreds of employees for taking part in what is said was an illegal strike that began on 24 July 2023.
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“The time is now for the mayor to put aside his pride, political ambitions, and instructions and do right by workers,” SAMWU said.
Commenting on the violence in the CBD earlier this week, Ofentse Madzebatela MMC for Human Settlements said: “I am dismayed at the attack on a driver of a water tanker truck and the torching of the truck in Pretoria CBD yesterday.
“The driver was physically assaulted but luckily was able to escape without sustaining any serious injuries.
“Due to the violent nature of the unprotected strike, the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) usually escorts water tankers when they do their rounds throughout Tshwane.”
However, Madzebatela said the TMPD was late and the driver drove out on his own from Prince’s Park Depot to Region 4.
“The driver was ambushed as he was making his way out of the depot and assaulted,”‘ recalled Madzebatela.
The water tanker serves residents of Olievenhoutbosch informal settlements in Region 4 and they will now be without water due to this criminal conduct.
“A criminal case has been opened with the South African Police Service,” said Madzebatela.
“It is now clear that the city is no longer dealing with an illegal strike action, we are now dealing with a well-coordinated criminal attack on our infrastructure.
“Therefore, I would like to urge law enforcement agencies to act with haste and bring these criminals to book.”
MMC for Community Safety Grandi Theunissen said: “The Executive Mayor has therefore asked the City Manager and acting Chief Police of the Tshwane Metro Police Department to urgently engage higher spheres of government, specifically within the security cluster, to intensify their efforts to investigate these matters and make the necessary arrests.
“These criminals should face the full might of the law.
“On behalf of the City, I would like to apologise to our residents who have been left without services due to these criminal acts.
“Be assured that we are doing everything in our power to fight for you and restore law and order.”
