BL Premium reported on Wednesday that workers at bulk water supplier Sedibeng Water had downed tools after being told they would not be paid their October salaries on time after municipalities in three provinces failed to pay for services.

Sedibeng Water, which is based in Bothaville in the Free State, supplies municipalities and mines in the Northern Cape, the Free State and the North West, where the stoppage could affect water supply. On Wednesday, Papikie Mohale, spokesperson of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), said the union supported the course of action taken by workers at Sedibeng Water and that the stoppage would continue until workers were paid. Samwu’s deputy general secretary Dumisane Magagula noted: “This notification of late payment of salaries comes after the municipality had earlier this month written to workers informing them that it will not be paying their salary increases as per the recently concluded salary and wage agreement in the Amanzi Bargaining Council which Sedibeng Water is party to.” In September, parties at the bargaining council agreed to a one-year, 5.5% pay rise, a R3,000 housing allowance and five months’ paid maternity leave. But the National Treasury said municipalities and water boards could apply for an exemption from the agreement after former finance minister Tito Mboweni announced huge cuts in the public sector wage bill over the next three years. Magagula said Samwu was “convinced that Sedibeng Water is deliberately creating confusion and panic among workers as justification for their intention not to honour the salary and wage collective agreement”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)

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