The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] in Gauteng is currently embarking on a strike action at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa [ICASA] which commenced today.

The strike comes as a result of a breakdown of substantive wage negotiations for the 2026/27 financial year. The union declared a dispute at the CCMA in May 2026 after the employer refused to concede to the demands of the union for a 6.5% salary increase plus a R40 000 across-the-board cash component. A conciliation process was convened, however it yielded no results and as a result a strike certificate was issued. The employer was served with a strike notice on the 28 July 2026.

The employer has demonstrated that they care less about workers. The employer proceeded to unilaterally implement a 4.5% increase without consulting the union at the end of June. The council and management of ICASA has continuously undermined and attacked collective bargaining processes and refuses to implement agreements in place at the workplace, such as reneging on workers’ performance bonuses for the 2023/2024 cycle last November.

As NEHAWU, we are embarking on an industrial action and the strike action will continue indefinitely until our demands are successfully met by the employer. We have placed the following demands to employer:

● 6.5% salary increase

● R40 000 across-the-board cash component.

● Implementation of performance bonuses for the 2023/2024 cycle

These are reasonable demands given that ICASA offers no additional benefits to staff, and that employees have endured below-inflation increases for three consecutive financial years despite generating billions of rands annually for state coffers.

The council and management of ICASA has disregarded the rights and interests of our members. These actions undermine the principles of fair treatment and consultation, exacerbating the concerns raised on how council and management handles workplace matters.

Workers are saying enough is enough and refuse to stand idle whilst their conditions of employment are not improved.

END

Issued by NEHAWU Gauteng Secretariat

For more information, please contact: Mzikayise Tshontshi (Gauteng Provincial Secretary) at 0636851938 or email: mzikayise@nehawu.org.za or Thulisile Msimang (Gauteng Provincial Deputy Secretary) at 0721748062 or email: tmsimang@dtps.gov.za