Services at the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in the Eastern Cape have been severely disrupted by an ongoing strike, with workers demanding an end to what they describe as unfair salary grades.
Uncollected waste continues to pile up across Mthatha as the standoff between workers and the municipality enters another day. Employees have been picketing since Monday, with unions describing the salary grading dispute as a long-standing issue. Unions further state that no clear time frames have been provided on when the matter will be resolved.
The municipality, however, maintains that it currently holds a grade four classification. A process is underway to elevate it to grade six status, though the municipality acknowledged that directors already earn salaries aligned to the higher grading.
Municipal management spokesperson addressed the situation, stating: “As the management, we have tried to engage them on a number of occasions regarding their grievances, and again we are not going to be able to give, let’s say, general workers a grade six salary whereas we are not even a grade six as a municipality. We are a grade four municipality. However, we did apply — in fact, we are in the process of applying to be a grade six municipality like all the other metros, but there are certain things that need to be determined for any municipality to be categorized as a grade six municipality.”
The municipality added that the strike is illegal and warned of possible disciplinary action should the pickets continue. According to municipal management, a meeting had been held in which consensus was reached, with workers agreeing to cease picketing by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the agreement and return to work.
“If they don’t do that, the municipal management will have to take drastic measures, and you might have been aware also that they’ve already been issued with suspension letters because what they are doing is illegal and they are halting services not only for the municipality but also for the general community of KSD,” the spokesperson said.
It remains unclear when the strike will end, as Mthatha residents continue to bear the brunt of interrupted services.
