Municipal strike - again!

MOKOPANE - Workers at the Mogalakwena Municipality blame Mayor Parks Sebatjane for "forcing" them to down tools again last Friday after he apparently failed to uphold the agreement relating to benchmarking of salaries. This, despite apparently getting the green light from Cooperative Governance Minister David van Rooyen.
The municipal workforce embarked on strike action again last week Friday and gathered at the Leka Lekalakala Council Chambers to wait for Sebatjane to address them on the benchmarking issue they assumed was resolved.
“It’s just a case of broken promises,” said Jabu Mashamaite, chairperson of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) on Tuesday morning. Mashamaite referred to promises allegedly made by the Mayor in an attempt to reinstate service delivery weeks ago. Mashamaite claims that Sebatjane failed to address the municipal workers about the change of plans. He claims that Sebatjane's words to officials insisting that he clarify the situation were: “I am not going to talk to you, just go away.”
“The only thing we are concerned about is the plight of the workers,” says Mashamaite. “We don’t find the leadership of this municipality taking responsibility for this [matter].”
“Their refusal to talk to the workers is what is fueling the situation. They promise the workers one thing and the next day they don’t want to speak to them,” said Mashamaite.
Traffic officials claim Sebatjane’s actions possibly contributed to the carnage on the Mogalakwena roads over the past long weekend as they (the traffic officials) were also on strike. “We want to return to work, but need to have this issue resolved first.”
Another municipal employee, who does not want his name to be mentioned due to fear of intimidation, said the community at large is quick to blame municipal workers for the so-called 'tantrums' at the municipality. “We just want what is fair and what is owed and promised to us. Nothing more and nothing less. It is that simple,” he said.
Another worker added that she and many others are too scared to fill out their attendance registers if they choose to work while other workers are striking as intimidators might see they are at work and harm them.
Percy Nketsi, a representative for the municipal worker force, said services will not be reinstated until a council meeting, that was scheduled and cancelled last Friday, takes place.
Northern News briefly spoke to acting municipal manager, Markus Mthombeni, who said that he is tired of commenting on the same matter week after week.