Municipal workers defied police in Grahamstown's Church Square yesterday as the strike that started on the first day of the National Arts Festival continued.
Municipal workers defied police in Grahamstown's Church Square yesterday as the strike that started on the first day of the National Arts Festival continued.
Around 70 members of the South African Municipal Workers Union toyi-toyied from 8am in front of the Birch's building.
Five police officers blocked the strikers from entering the Festival market area, while another half a dozen monitored the group from their vehicles.
Mid-morning, a senior officer approached the strikers and ordered them to disband. He told them the strike had been declared illegal and warned them they would be arrested.
Led by chairperson Zola Kolisi and secretary Lindelwa Faltein, the strikers continued to toyi-toyi, saying there was no court interdict declaring their presence on Church Square illegal.
Explaining his reluctance to return to work, a striker who asked to remain anonymous said, "Even if we go back to work we might not be paid this month."
He was referring to the rumour that the municipality is bankrupt.
He said they would continue with the strike.
The strikers left Church Square around 11am.
Makana Municipality's communications officer Yoliswa Ramokolo told Grocott’s Mail that the municipality had not yet released a statement about the strike.
