Matters have reached a boiling point in Matjhabeng, with many saying the march today, 23 February, indicated the end of the end.
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in Matjhabeng were joined by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) just after the start of the strike four weeks ago. Now all Cosatu-affiliated unions, including the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), joined the marchers through Welkom.
Workers are demanding that money, unlawfully deducted from their salaries, be paid back. Photo: Marti Will
Workers are fed up. Samwu Matjhabeng were joined by Cosatu just after the start of the strike four weeks ago. Now all Cosatu-affiliated unions including Sadtu joined the marchers through Welkom. Poto: Marti Will
Among other major issues, Matjhabeng workers are tired of political interference.Photo: Marti Will
Workers are demanding that their salaries all get adjusted to grade 6.Photo: Marti Will
Hundreds of disenfranchised municipal workers, Cosatu affiliates from all over the province, and workers from the district municipalities in the Free State like Thabo Mafutsanyana, Fezile Dabi and even Maluti-a-Phofung joined in the march.Photo: Marti Will
The march is very peaceful and organised. Photo: Marti Will
Matjhabeng workers are fed up with the way they are being treated and the unfair labour practices they are being subjected to.Photo: Marti Will
The executive mayor of Matjhabeng, Thanduxolo Khalipha, is the brunt of the discontent of the municipal workers. They are demanding that he resign immediately.Photo: Marti Will
Basic needs like protective clothing for workers form part of the demands list.Photo: Marti Will
Some marchers came fully prepared to the march with all of the “tools” they thought they might need to force their issues.Photo: Nonkululeko Ngubeni
Workers from each of the units in Matjhabeng joined the march on 23 February.Photo: Nonkululeko Ngubeni
Hundreds of disenfranchised municipal workers, all of the Cosatu affiliates from all over the province, and workers from the district municipalities in the Free State like Thabo Mafutsanyana, Fezile Dabi as well as Maluti-a-Phofung joined them in their march.
The Matjhabeng municipal workers have been involved in a legitimate and protected strike for four weeks now. No work or services have been done in this time.
They are demanding the immediate dismissal of the executive mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha. They want better working conditions, an end to weekly imbizos, and a total stop to the daily war room meetings.
The march is very peaceful and organised.
A memorandum of demands will be handed over to the national minister of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) at the Matjhabeng municipal buildings at 12:00.
