The eThekwini Municipality is playing hardball with employees engaged in an illegal strike
that has crippled services for over a week. In a stern warning, the municipality states that “all
employees who are currently engaged in an illegal strike must return to work or face
dismissal.”

The striking workers, demanding pay parity with other municipalities, have caused
widespread disruptions. As Municipal Spokesperson Gugu Sisilana elaborates,
“Communities who have been without water and electricity for several days are bearing the
brunt of this unlawful strike action. Patients have also sadly been unable to access
healthcare. Refuse collection has also been affected with residents and businesses forced to
contain refuse within their properties until further notice.”

To mitigate the impact, police have been enlisted to escort essential staff to service points to
address electricity faults, water leaks, and burst pipes. However, the defiance persists, with
13 municipal workers appearing in court today on charges including contravention of a court
order, damage to infrastructure, and malicious damage to property.

Sisilana reiterated the municipality’s commitment “to urgently reinstating services such as
the provision of water and security while addressing security threats posed by infrastructure
sabotage.” However, the patience of authorities appears to be wearing thin in the face of the
strike’s escalating consequences.

As the crisis deepens, the municipality’s ultimatum to striking employees adds urgency to
resolving the impasse. With essential services paralyzed and communities bearing the brunt,
a resolution appears imperative to restore normalcy and prevent further turmoil in the coastal
city.