The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) notes with concern utter disgust, the desperate, anti-worker propaganda released by Democratic Alliance (DA) Tshwane Mayoral Candidate, Ald Cilliers Brink. The DA’s recent declaration is not a genuine financial plan to save the City, but rather a declaration of open war against the working class and a direct, contemptuous assault on the integrity and legally binding rulings of the collective bargaining institutions of our democracy. This latest cynical move by the DA is nothing less than a desperate, treasonous attempt to rule Tshwane from the grave, years after their catastrophic mismanagement ended.
As SAMWU, we are demanding that the City Manager, Mr. Johann Mettler, immediately reject this self-serving, legally illiterate advice from the DA and fully respect the solemn ruling of the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC). The DA’s call for the City of Tshwane to defy the law and take the binding SALGBC award on judicial review is not only fiscally irresponsible but is a directive to subvert justice and continue the costly legal bloodbath that has already wasted tens of millions in public funds. Any attempt by the current administration to appeal this matter will be met with the full force of SAMWU’s legal and organisational power.
The DA’s pretence of concern for the city’s budget rings hollow, as the current financial abyss in the City of Tshwane is the shameful and undeniable legacy of the instability, corruption, and catastrophic financial neglect that characterised the periods when the DA held political power. We remind the public that this financial crisis was, in fact, manufactured under the DA administration , when they initially denied workers both the 3.5% (2021/22) and the subsequent 5.4% (2023/24) salary increases. Their claim to champion financial health rings hollow when their own mismanagement created the budget deficits they now fraudulently use as an excuse to avoid paying workers their rightful dues.
The most pathetic hypocrisy of all is the DA’s deafening silence when the City recently voted and approved a 5% salary increase for Councillors because they and their political elite stood to benefit. Their crocodile tears for the City’s budget only flow when it is time to pay the hardworking municipal staff. This is the mindset of a party that treats the municipality not as a public servant institution, but as a monarchy with a treasure chest to be inherited.
We demand the immediate payment of workers’ 3.5% salary increases as per the SALGBC award!
Issued by SAMWU Secretariat
Dumisane Magagula, General Secretary, (076 580 4029) Nkhetheni Muthavhi, Deputy General Secretary (082 526 5224) Papikie Mohale, National Media Officer (076 795 8670).