PRETORIA, Gauteng — An escalating ICASA strike fueled by a deadlocked NEHAWU wage dispute has brought operations at South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority to a standstill. Workers downed tools this week after negotiations collapsed, triggering widespread disruptions that union leaders warn could impact critical national sectors, including banking infrastructure and political campaign advertising ahead of local government elections.
At the heart of the industrial action is a sharp disagreement over compensation and collective bargaining rights. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) is demanding a 6.5% salary increase, a once-off cash payout of R40,000 for every qualifying employee, and the payment of outstanding performance bonuses for the 2023/2024 financial year.
In response, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) management unilaterally implemented a 4.5% increase, backdated to June. The union flatly rejected this offer, alongside the employer’s refusal to entertain the R40,000 payout and the delayed 2023/2024 bonuses.
Mzikayise Tshontshi, NEHAWU’s Gauteng provincial secretary, stated that the strike was born out of the employer’s “intransigence” and decision to force an unagreed-upon contract onto staff. Before taking to the picket lines, the union approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and successfully obtained a certificate of non-resolution, legally paving the way for the protected strike. According to Tshontshi, the action has near-unanimous backing from the workforce, with only a single worker voting against the mandate to strike.
The walkout has placed critical ICASA staff on the picket lines, creating a ripple effect across multiple industries. Tshontshi highlighted that the disruption extends heavily into the financial sector, affecting banking services, as well as the regulatory framework required for political parties to broadcast their campaigns.
While the strike coincides with a highly sensitive period for local government elections, Tshontshi emphasized that the timing was not strategic but rather coincidental. The union had originally planned to strike at the end of July but deliberately delayed the action to give ICASA management ample time to reconsider the demands put on the table.
“The employer underestimated the possibility of workers being able to put the institution at a standstill,” Tshontshi noted, adding that the strike will continue until management stops its “arrogance” and takes the workforce seriously.
Addressing the financial toll on the workers, Tshontshi acknowledged the South African labor law principle of “no work, no pay.” However, he noted that employees view the lost wages as a momentary sacrifice. The union’s primary objective is to secure decent, long-term compensation and to defend the integrity of collective bargaining against unilateral employer actions.
Currently, the two parties remain at a stalemate. While Tshontshi mentioned unconfirmed rumors that ICASA might be willing to meet, the union refuses to entertain speculation. NEHAWU maintains that the strike will continue until the employer returns to the negotiating table in good faith, though the union remains open to resuming talks at any moment to resolve the impasse.
