The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) can confirm that an exemption application by Magalies Water has been received in the Amanzi Bargaining Council (ABC). Magalies Water has applied to be exempted from the recently concluded salary and wage collective agreement in the ABC. 

As per the collective agreement, all workers in the country’s water boards were to receive a salary increase of 6% and a housing allowance of R3300 effective from July 2022. It came as a surprise to SAMWU that representatives of Magalies Water elected to apply for an exemption to this collective agreement which they are party to and have been represented in the negotiations of the collective agreement. 

The attempt by Magalies Water to deny workers at the water board will have dire consequences for workers who are on a daily basis responsible for the provision of water to communities in the North West province. The application also comes at a time where there is great anxiety amongst workers as a result of the disestablishment of Sedibeng Water and the anticipated realignment of water boards spearheaded by the Department of Water and Sanitation. 

SAMWU has already activated its legal representatives for this exemption hearing. We are confident that workers will emerge victorious in this process. The reasons which have been put forward by Magalies Water to be exempted from this agreement cannot be used to punish workers and deny them their salary increases. These workers are already struggling to catch up with the increasing cost of living. 

We further view this application as a direct attack on collective bargaining by Magalies Water management.  We caution Magalies Water management to desist from acts that seek to provoke workers who have remained committed to ensuring the continuity of services despite the changes and anxiety brought to them by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The same caution is extended to all water boards that they should always act in good faith and in the interest of workers and service delivery. As a union, we will not allow for a situation wherein workers are turned into slaves or scapegoated as a result of governance failures in the country’s water boards. 

Issued by SAMWU Secretariat 

Dumisane Magagula

General Secretary 

076 580 

Or 

Papikie Mohale

National Media Officer 

073 710 0356