Striking municipal workers have gone over their bosses' heads, demanding that the Province address their grievances.
Members of the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) downed tools on Tuesday 25 February calling for a forensic audit of Makana Municipality's finances.
Striking municipal workers have gone over their bosses' heads, demanding that the Province address their grievances.
Members of the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) downed tools on Tuesday 25 February calling for a forensic audit of Makana Municipality's finances.
With the capital budget almost gone, the equitable share cut by National Treasury and residents owing more than R200 million in rates, Makana is a sinking ship.
Acting municipal manager Mandisi Planga recently described Makana as being "technically bankrupt".
Having lost their faith in the city's management, the strikers have demanded that Local Government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane be brought to accept their memorandum.
"We have been talking to the employer several times about issues when we had meetings and they have showed us that they don't care. We no longer want to engage with any of them," said union secretary Lindelwa Faltein.
The strike erupted as the city's leaders were out of town seeking high-level intervention to get Makana Municipality out of the red.
In a recent interview, Planga told Grocott's Mail openly admitted that the municipality is in serious financial difficulty.
"This is affecting the implementation of important projects. Contractors are leaving the sites because they are not paid," he said.
Planga said it was no rumour that they could not meet their financial obligations.
"It is common knowledge that as Makana we are technically bankrupt," said Planga.
The municipality had spent its Municipal Infrastructure Grant on operational expenses.
"We are living from hand to mouth,"he said.
On Wednesday Samwu members marched from the Chan Henry Supermarket intersection in Fingo Village to the city hall, stopping at various municipal offices along the way. They started a fire in front of Makana's Finance Department in High Street and scattered rubbish on the road.
But as the strike resumed yesterday, Samwu leaders urged members to be disciplined
Heavily armed members of the East London Public Order Policing Unit blocked their entry to the city hall this morning.
"We want to be addressed by Qoboshiyane, not somebody else," said Samwu chairperson Zola Kolisi.
He said they told councillor Mabhuti Matyumza and corporate services director Mzukisi Madlavu that they were not willing to discuss their memorandum with them. The pair were deputising for Mayor Zamuxolo Peter and Planga.
The union leadership had lodged an urgent application on Thursday 27 February to march again the following day and also to picket the next week until Qoboshiyane comes to Makana.
The strike began after workers asked the city's leaders about discrepancies with employee benefits.
"The majority of the workers did not get their regular salaries; some did not get paid their acting allowances. Pension fund, medical aid and insurances were also not paid," said Kolisi.
He said they demanded an external forensic audit of Makana's finances.
During the demonstration workers held up placards that read: 'We demand forensic investigation', 'Sicela usithathe province (province please take over) sikhupe e-ICU (remove us from ICU)'.
Planga said on Thursday 27 February he could not comment, as they were meeting to come up with a solution.
On Wednesday he said he was in Pretoria to negotiate for a Municipal Infrastructure Grant funding from the National Treasury.
Attempts to get comment from Planga late yesterday were unsuccessful.
