The municipal buildings in Welkom and Virginia on Monday night burst into flames when angry workers went on a rampage after they retaliated to another session of failed talks in the ninth week of the industrial strike in Matjhabeng.
A disastrous meeting on Monday 25 March addressing the no-work no-pay principal and an objection from the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) ended in an impasse.
Workers took to the streets of Welkom around the municipal building and set trees and tyres alight and damaged the finance department building. They then blocked Stateway and the surrounding roads around the nearby banks with bricks and chunks of cement.
In Virginia the destruction escalated, and the municipal clinic and building were partially set alight, and damage was done to the surrounding area.
According to Tiisetso Mahlatsi, provincial secretary of Samwu, the crux of the matter is that in the nine weeks of the strike, the union was not officially notified that a no-work no-pay policy would be enforced. After previous negotiations and agreements there were promises of pay that were not honoured.
This month some workers did eventually receive salaries with large amounts of up to R5 000 that were deducted for an item called Diverse Retrieve.
Mahlatsi says Matjhabeng Council resolved that the affected employees “must be compensated and that the February salaries must be paid on condition that it is an advancement repayable for three months”.
Furthermore, the council also resolved that the affected employees must “enter into a payment agreement with the employer before such payment is preferred.”
This stance angered workers who felt that they had been robbed of salaries they were owed.
Tshediso Tlali, spokesperson for Matjhabeng, says despite earnest attempts to address concerns by offering to disburse February salaries, Samwu objected to the conditions of deducting money for the days not worked by its members.
He confirms matters were not resolved in the meeting.
The Matjhabeng has reiterated its unwavering commitment to resolving this issue through continued collaboration with Samwu, prioritising the welfare of both employees and the residents of Matjhabeng.
The Matjhabeng police confirms that the finance offices of the Matjhabeng Municipality were damaged and partly burnt, and roads were barricaded with burning rubbish.
Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police, says a case of public violence was registered at the Welkom Police Station.
He says in Virginia at the municipal premises, trees were burnt, and office’s windowpanes were broken. The interior of one office where files were kept was burnt. A case of public violence was registered at the Virginia Police Station.
Thakeng says members of Public Order Policing are monitoring the situation.
He confirms no arrests have been made.
