Four days later and all municipal services in Tzaneen, Limpopo, have remained suspended.
Much of this has to do with protests led by the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU).
Tzaneen protests stretch on for four days
Since Tuesday, the trade union that represents workers from the Greater Tzaneen Municipality have picketed outside the premises, burning rubble and ensuring that services aren’t catered to the region.
As reported by the Herald, the municipality’s court interdict proved to be futile in stopping the union from returning to block all entry into the premises.
On Friday, as seen in the images below, scores of protesters were seen torching rubble outside the municipality, calling for management to act on their list of demands.
What are the disgruntled workers’ demands?
From what we understand, the disgruntled workers are demanding the immediate axing of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality’s manager Thapelo Matlala.
SAMWU has also called for the reinstatement of the encashment of leave days and other benefits like car and housing allowances.
These demands, unfortunately, can’t be met, according to the municipality’s spokesperson Neville Ndlala. In particular, the encashment of leave days and other allowances is in contravention of newly installed cost-cutting legislation that governs municipalities nationwide.
Ndlala didn’t confirm if any talks have been held between the municipality’s management and SAMWU.
Tzaneen protesters will strike until demands are met
With the municipality not budging from its refusal to meet these demands, SAMWU has escalated matters with Friday’s illegal strike.
Moreover, the union has made it abundantly clear that the disgruntled workers will continue to strike until every single one of their demands are met.
At the time of publishing this article, a team of public order police was seen monitoring the situation.