The City of Tshwane finds itself in turmoil as it grapples with the aftermath of violent infrastructure attacks and ongoing labour strikes.
Tshwane bus services grounded amid SAMWU wage tensions
The city has been forced to suspend some of its municipal services, including its bus services, in the wake of these destructive events.
Destructive scenes unfolded in the Pretoria Central Business District (CBD) as striking municipal employees allegedly set fire to four city-owned vehicles and pelted several buses with stones.
These acts of violence have been linked to an ongoing labour strike by municipal workers.
At the heart of this turmoil is a dispute over a 5.4% wage increase between the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) and the Democratic Alliance (DA)-led metro, which governs Tshwane.
The union has firmly rejected the city’s claims that it lacks the financial resources to meet the workers’ demands for increased wages.
WATCH – Tshwane CBD disintegrates into violence – Here’s everything we know
Transport MMC Katlego Mathebe revealed that during these sporadic attacks, an A Re Yeng bus, part of the city’s public transportation system, was also damaged.
In response to these events, the city took the drastic step of suspending its bus services, citing concerns for the safety of both commuters and employees.
City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba expressed the need to protect city infrastructure from what he characterised as “well-coordinated criminal attacks.”
These recent attacks on the city’s infrastructure are not isolated incidents.
In August 2023, at least three waste removal trucks were torched, further exacerbating the tense labour situation. In response to the unrest, the city has already terminated the employment of 123 workers, with the possibility of further dismissals looming on the horizon.
The situation in Tshwane remains fluid, with city officials and union representatives at an impasse, and residents facing disruptions to essential services.