theherald

THE municipal strike which has disrupted services in Nelson Mandela Bay and around the country for the past week is set to continue today.

Although hopes rose that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) strike would be settled at the weekend, union officials said this would only happen once an agreement covering all issues had been signed with the SA Local Government Association (Salga).

Salga communications manager Milisa Kentane said last night they had held discussions with Samwu officials at OR Tambo International Airport yesterday.

These would continue today.

As the strike dragged on more incidents of violence and intimidation were reported.

Mandela Bay municipal security officials are fearing for their lives after a petrol bombing at a municipal depot, followed by death threats.

Security officials based at the electricity depot in Buik Street, Motherwell, witnessed two men hurling a petrol bomb over the 3m-high boundary fence at about 10pm on Friday.

A dark blue VW Citi Golf was seen leaving the scene.

Police were called shortly after the explosion and escorted fire department vehicles to the depot after they refused to enter the area without a police escort.

A senior municipal security services source said shortly after the petrol bomb attack the emergency control room received a phone call threatening to kill all working security officials if they “did not go home”.

Metro security officials say they believe the petrol bomb and death threats were intimidation tactics from striking workers.

These incidents come after police captain Gert Jonker was hit in the eye with a brick on Friday while police were attempting to disperse strikers who were lighting fires in Govan Mbeki Avenue.

Services have also been disrupted.

Port Elizabeth resident Sherice Evans of Bluewater Bay had no joy getting a sewerage leak fixed yesterday. Evans said that a few months ago a sewerage pipe situated at the back of her home burst, resulting in sewage “overflowing all over the place”.

“The same thing happened on Thursday when the sewerage pipe broke. (The sewage) is so disgusting and horrific, you can’t take the smell. We tried to call the municipality today (Sunday) to come and fix the problem but to no avail,” said Evans.

The strike subjected ratepayers to filth that was not only a “tremendous inconvenience” but a “huge health risk”.

Samwu national spokesman Tahir Sema said the main issue of the dispute related to job evaluation. Salga was delaying implementing an agreement reached in 2003.

Another issue was the use of lawyers by the municipalities to discipline and eventually dismiss workers, while municipal disciplinary procedures were not used.

Nelson Mandela Bay acting municipal manager Elias Ntoba said the municipality was “constantly interacting” with Salga regarding the strike to ensure a speedy resolution.

While they recognised it was a protected strike, “we do, however, condemn acts of vandalism, intimidation and trashing of streets that have characterised the strike action so far. We call upon the striking employees to conduct themselves in a manner that accords with legitimate and peaceful strike action.”

With regard to municipal services, the municipality was making every effort to ensure services were rendered to the public.

Ntoba said: “We take this opportunity to apologise to all residents and stakeholders for any inconvenience caused. We are hopeful that the impasse will soon be resolved.”