The Star reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) is up in arms after several municipalities across the country failed to pay workers their salaries.  

The union warned on Wednesday that it would go on strike unless the 30 municipalities concerned immediately paid their workers.  Apparently, the cash-strapped municipalities which had failed to pay workers were in Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.  The non-payment of workers comes after several municipalities in the North West and KZN were placed under administration.  “Samwu therefore demands the immediate payment of all salaries of municipal workers that have not been paid yet.  When workers go on strike, municipalities apply the no-work, no-pay principle.  As a result, workers are determined to apply the no-pay, no-work principle until such time that their salaries reflect on their bank accounts.  We further demand these municipalities compensate workers for any charges and penalties incurred as a result of the late payment,” Samwu said in a statement.  In his reply in Parliament on Wednesday to the debate of his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was concerned about the state of affairs at some municipalities.  He indicated that the government would be assisting 57 municipalities in distress.  This pledge was confirmed by Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

• Read the full original of Siyabonga Mkhwanazi’s report on the above story at Independent News
• Read Samwu’s press statement at Samwu News

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page