Tebogo Msimanga |
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in Gauteng says it is devasted following the shooting of an employee and hijacking of a municipal vehicle in Montana on Saturday evening. SAMWU confirmed that the employee who was shot and subsequently rushed to the hospital is a member of the Union.
SAMWU Gauteng Secretary Mpho Tladinyane said information received so far is that on Saturday, a team of employees from the Water and Sanitation were performing their duties when they were harassed by a group of individuals.
“Later that evening, the team leader who is an employee of the City and a member of SAMWU was accosted and shot at by individuals who robbed him of the municipal vehicle which he was in”.
Tladinyane added that following the incident, the City, through its Acting Head of Communication, Marketing and Events, Selby Bokaba, issued a scathing attack on behalf of the City Manager making serious and unfounded allegations that SAMWU and its members are responsible for this attack.
“Bokaba proceeded to accuse the Union of having degenerated into thuggery and criminality”.
Tladinyane said the failure of the City to protect its employees while on duty has resulted in them being vulnerable and exposed. “These workers are the machines that keep Tshwane running. These very same workers have been denied their 3.5% salary increase for the 2021/22 financial year and 5.4% for the current financial year”.
SAMWU is demanding that the City takes responsibility for this incident and many others which they have reported without any action.
