The main entance to Welkom at Manny’s taxi rank has been blockaded with large boulders as angry municipal strikers prepare for their march to the municipal buildings.
Workers from Allanridge, Odendaalsrus, Hennenman, and Virginia are converging on Welkom in an act of unity against the executive mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha.
The angry workers are chanting and bearing posters and banners saying “Khalpiha must go”.
An entire block around the municipality, which includes road access to the South African Revenue Services (Sars) building, Welkom Library, the back-end of the magistrates’ court and two major banks have been blocked off and are being guarded buy a large police and Welkom traffic department presence.
Vista understands that Khalipha sent the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) a memorandum in which he states that he (the municipality) has decided to lock-out the Samwu members from municipal premises in Matjhabeng, effective from today, 29 January, for the duration of the strike action.
The route for the strike will be from the Sasol garage in Koppie Alleen Road, down Stateway and to the municipal buildings bordered by the Central and North parks.
