Share

I should have intervened earlier, De Lille tells Samwu strikers

Cape Town - Mayor Patricia de Lille told Samwu strikers on Wednesday that the City had failed to resolve all the problems regarding workers, admitting she should have intervened earlier.

“A committee of unions is invited to my office to address outstanding issues not yet resolved. These include grievances about allowances for pregnant firefighters that is not yet resolved.”

She assured them the City was committed to pay full allowances for pregnant firefighters, "whether they are fighting fires or not". This demand was on the list contained in the memorandum handed to De Lille.

The Khayelitsha fire station and all but one clinic in the area were closed down on Wednesday morning following intimidation and violence by those said to be taking part in the strike, a City of  Cape Town official said.

“In the interests of the safety of everyone, it was better to close these facilities as some staff were physically assaulted and manhandled [on Tuesday],” the city’s safety and security executive director Richard Bosman told News24.

“Staff were severely traumatised and badly affected.”

He said individuals, thought to be part of a SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) strike, had forced patients to leave some clinics and also assaulted a few nurses on Tuesday.

Fences were trampled on and doors were damaged when protesters allegedly forced their way in.

Bosman said the damage to clinic property was provisionally estimated at R20 000.

A clinic in Khayelitsha was open on Wednesday morning, but was set to close as soon as it had seen its last patient.

Striking workers also allegedly forced staff to leave the fire station on Tuesday.

The union's Mikel Khumalo said their main concerns revolved around wages and female firefighters losing allowances during pregnancy as they were non-operational.

Receiving the memorandum, De Lille told strikers that the city had failed to resolve all the problems regarding workers and admitted that she should have intervened earlier.

Bosman said reports were received that some staff members across the city had been intimidated, including at depots in Parow and Killarney Gardens.

Staff were encouraged to lay charges where necessary.

The City was looking at applying for a court interdict prohibiting Samwu from acts of violence, intimidation and entering council facilities, Bosman said.

Hundreds of workers affiliated to Samwu gathered in the Cape Town CBD on Wednesday morning in a legal protest on the third day of strike action.

Just before midday, hundreds of strikers were seen making their way down Adderley Street.

The strike action has seen 50 areas, from Newlands to Makaza, affected as refuse collection schedules have been interrupted.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 394 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 553 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE