Municipal workers protest outside court as a R10 billion wage dispute between the City of Johannesburg and the DA intensifies. Picture Credit: MSN
By Aisha Zardad
Gauteng – A legal battle over a controversial R10 billion salary agreement in the City of Johannesburg has sparked protests outside the Gauteng High Court, with municipal workers clashing with the DA over the future of their wages.
Scores of workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) gathered outside court on Thursday in opposition to the DA’s application to block the implementation of the agreement.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has approached the Gauteng High Court seeking an interdict to stop the City of Johannesburg from proceeding with the deal, arguing that it could push the municipality into a financial and service delivery crisis.
The agreement, valued at R10 billion, was concluded between the city and municipal workers and is aimed at addressing salary disparities.
Speaking outside court, MMC for Human Settlements Mlungisi Mabaso defended the agreement, criticising the DA’s move against what he described as struggling workers.
“As the executive in the City of Joburg, we had taken a conscious decision after the agreement that was reached between the city and the workers that they needed to be graded correctly and paid at the level of their grading. That is what we are implementing. This is a fair process, and the workers deserve to be fairly compensated.”
SAMWU’s Johannesburg Regional Secretary General, Thobani Nkosi, also condemned the legal challenge.
“The DA was defeated in council, and now we are surprised, as they were the first people to implement the very same structure. Today, they are challenging this initiative, which has been properly calculated. In fact, we are not surprised as the DA has shown that they do not want workers to be fairly compensated, as they did the same in Tshwane, but their members are paid very well,” Nkosi said.
DA Federal leader and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille argued that the agreement poses a serious threat to the city’s finances.
“The agreement commits the city to paying SAMWU members more than R10 billion. This is more than the city’s entire annual budget for building new infrastructure to improve service delivery. This agreement between the ANC and its coalition partners with SAMWU is often referred to as a ‘politically facilitated agreement’ because its purpose is entirely political,” Zille stated.
She further alleged that the agreement could divert critical funds away from essential services.
“In reaching this agreement, the ANC ignored the law and the city’s dire financial circumstances to buy political support. That is why we are seeking an urgent interdict to prevent the further looting of the city’s water and electricity budgets to fund the ANC’s election strategy,” Zille added.
Meanwhile, MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services Sithembiso Zungu accused the DA of inconsistency.
“The DA is being opportunistic in this regard. This is because this matter went to the council and dates back to 2016, when the agreement was signed off then. It passed the council vote, so we are surprised now to see the DA coming back and saying they are not in support of this agreement.”
Workers on the ground say the outcome of the case will have a direct impact on their livelihoods. Athi Fihlani, a municipal employee from Ekurhuleni, said the increase is essential amid rising living costs.
“We are here fighting for what rightfully belongs to us, because we need this money. If they fail to release this money, we will continue to suffer. Some of us are struggling to make ends meet due to the high cost of living. We do not even have proper houses. As government employees who earn too little to afford proper housing, we find it difficult, as we are told that we earn too much to be afforded low-cost housing by the government.”
The case continues, with the outcome expected to have significant implications for both the city’s finances and thousands of municipal workers.
