Makana Municipality workers who engaged in an illegal strike have been served with a court order that has interdicted them from continuing with the illegal strike, according to the municipality.
Makana Municipality workers who engaged in an illegal strike have been served with a court order that has interdicted them from continuing with the illegal strike, according to the municipality.
Municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo said all the workers had as from today (01 October) adhered to the court order and have reported for duty. "The Municipality will be monitoring the situation and will take further legal action in the event that any worker abandons their duties without following the correct procedures," she said.
Ramokolo said normal service delivery has resumed today and any inconvenience to Makana residents is sincerely regretted.
Makana Municipality employees downed tools on Monday, 28 September, following reports of problems with their salary payments. The workers were due to meet and to be addressed by municipal management on Tuesday, 29 September.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail in front of the city hall on Tuesday morning South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) members said they would not allow the media to sit in the meeting.
They said it was a matter that they were handling internally between them and municipal management. They said they would release a statement.
Workers who spoke to Grocott's Mail on condition of anonymity said the problems were around salaries being paid late at times and problems with certain items reflected on their payslips.
The workers' stance has had a negative impact on the delivery of services to the residents of Makana. Rubbish has piled up in front of homes in different parts of the town.
Responding to questions from Grocott's Mail on Tuesday, Ramokolo said the workers were not on strike. She said they had downed tools, but she couldn't give reasons as to why.
"It's not a strike, it's a work stoppage."
Ramokolo said the municipality hadn't received anything in writing from the workers, but said they were pleading with the workers to return to work. "The municipality is also seeking legal advice," she said at the time.
By Tuesday afternoon Ramokolo said the workers hadn't resumed their duties, adding that she wasn't sure how long they would continue to stay away from work. The municipality has, however, managed to get the workers back to work by way of a court order.
anele@grocotts.co.za
