CITY OF TSHWANE PROHIBITS DEAD AND SUSPENDED WORKERS FROM PROTESTING.

At least 19 workers accused of participating in the illegal strike were served with notices of intent to terminate their contracts, according to Mayor Randall Williams. Workers had until last Thursday to provide the city with justifications for why they should not be fired. Some workers have been on an unprotected strike for nearly two weeks, disrupting service delivery and intimidating their co-workers from providing services to residents.

According to the South African Municipal Workers Union, the late Tshwane municipal worker Walter Mnguni was among the workers who were barred from striking unprotected by the metro at the Labour Court last week. “Even people who have died were prohibited from entering municipal buildings,” said regional Samwu chairperson Nkhetheni Muthavhi. Walter Mnguni, for example, is listed in annexure two despite the fact that he died three months ago.” According to Samwu, the list of shop stewards appended to court papers included Lawrence Mahlangu, who resigned three years ago but was still interdicted.

According to Williams, the City was granted a contempt of court order on Thursday against striking workers and the Samwu leadership to end the illegal strike. The South African Police Service and the Tshwane Metro Police Department have been given orders to ensure that the court order is followed.Jordan Griffiths, the chief of staff, declined to comment on the latest developments in the process of terminating workers’ contracts, saying that a formal communication would be issued after the process was completed.

By: PALESA MANELI.