SAMWU Pledges Solidarity with City of Johannesburg Members
SAMWU Pledges Solidarity with City of Johannesburg Members
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) — the largest trade union voice in local government and allied sectors — calls on its members in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) to remain resolute and united. Police have used excessive force to undermine a genuine wage dispute. Our members’ struggle is legitimate. It is part of the broader fight for fair wages and dignity. SAMWU will defend municipal workers against any attempt to silence or intimidate them.
On Monday, 26 October 2026, disciplined members demanded to be addressed by the City Manager of CoJ following the failure of the employer to implement an official collective agreement. Instead of acting with honor the City Manager left the situation unattended with the end result of the police acting with brutality against employees.
As National Office Bearers (NOBs), we reaffirm our full support. We will stand firmly by our members until their demands are met. This action shows the determination of workers who refuse to be silenced.
At the heart of this struggle is the demand for the implementation of the Political Facilitated Agreement (PFA). The PFA, rooted in a CCMA-facilitated agreement from 2016, was designed to correct income disparities in CoJ’s entities. The City has failed to implement it. This failure stems from poor leadership and mismanagement. Workers’ trust has been betrayed. Confidence in the City’s ability to govern has collapsed. SAMWU insists the PFA must be implemented immediately. It is both a contractual obligation and a moral imperative.
We condemn the use of excessive force by police. If the City believes that courts and police will silence our dispute, it is mistaken. Repression strengthens our resolve. It deepens our unity as workers. SAMWU will defend constitutional rights. We will ensure our members’ voices are heard without fear.
SAMWU calls on the police to resist being bullied into undermining protest action. Workers across all sectors feel the pinch of food prices, the high cost of living, racialized poverty, and mass joblessness. Municipal workers are marching with their feet to demand change. This struggle reflects the broader crisis facing the working class. SAMWU stands ready to intensify mobilization until workers’ voices are respected. SAMWU will not retreat. We will fight until justice is won. Our struggle is the struggle of all workers.
Issued by: National Office Bearers (NOBs)
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU)
Contact: Dumisani Magagula
General Secretary
076 580 4029