Africa-Press – South-Africa. A senior member of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) in the Tshwane regional executive, who was employed by the City of Tshwane, has been dismissed after video footage allegedly linked him to the firebombing of a waste removal truck in August.
The city has come under attack in recent months following a decision not to pay salary increases because of its weak financial position. Several vehicles have been torched since the end of July, which coincides with an illegal strike by disgruntled employees, which crippled service delivery for millions in the nation’s capital.
One such incident happened on 29 August, when a waste removal truck belonging to a contractor of the city was set on fire. In a briefing on Thursday, Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink revealed that the firebombing was caught on video. Brink said: Brink said the vehicle, identified by its make, model and registration number, was linked to a Samwu official.
“Yesterday, the city manager informed me that investigators had established that the official’s alibi about the possession of his vehicle on the day of the attack could not be verified and that the city manager had issued [the official] with a letter of dismissal,” Brink said.
The mayor said all the evidence had been handed over to police shortly after the incident and, on the advice of law enforcement, the city did not release any of the evidence to the public.
“The investigation is still ongoing but, regrettably, no arrests have been made yet.”
Brink said he took a decision to release the information because it is in the public interest and the disclosure could no longer compromise the investigation.
“It is of critical importance that the people of Tshwane know what is going on and to what extent violent crime has been used as a negotiating tactic in this strike.”
The mayor called on the Samwu leadership to reflect on the incident and ensure that its members allow City of Tshwane officials and contractors to do their work without fearing for their lives. Samwu has repeatedly said its members were not involved in the strike or the torching of vehicles and intimidation of city workers.
When asked about the revelations by the mayor, Samwu general secretary Dumisane Magagula said: “This is nothing but yet another attempt by the mayor to tarnish the union’s image [and] gain public sympathy at the expense of workers and their safety, while also pitting our members against community members whom they live side by side with. We reiterate that Samwu is a non-violent organisation.
“As such, we urge the mayor to approach the nearest police station to lay criminal charges. We are, in fact, prepared to accompany the mayor to the police station. He should just inform us when and where; we will be available to accompany him and his team.”
Organised crime
Brink claimed that the attacks should not be seen as part of a labour dispute but rather organised crime. “Every time a waste removal truck is stoned or torched, human life is put at risk. The victims are working people who have to provide for their families in difficult times.
“There is no guarantee of escaping such an attack. Several city employees have been hospitalised in this way.
“The aim is clearly to terrorise people who render services to communities to stop them from doing their work,” Brink said. He added:
Salary increases
After the Tshwane council took the decision not to pay salary increases, the city lodged an exemption application with the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) in August.
The bargaining council has since dismissed that application. Believing that the SALGBC decision is flawed, the city announced that it would take the matter on review in the labour court. With the city’s intention to challenge the bargaining council’s ruling, the matter of the salary increases is now in limbo.
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