SAMWU CALLS FOR UMHLATHUZE MUNICIPALITY AND COCGTA TO ENSURE SAFETY OF WORKERS AMIDST SHOOTING INCIDENT.

March 28, 2024 adminPress

28 March 2024

South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in Kwa-Zulu Natal has noted with dismay the incident of fatal shooting inside Umhlathuze Municipality premises this morning. This tragic incident that has resulted to the loss of two workers lives, and left the entire workforce traumatised could have been averted if municipal leadership heeded numerous calls from SAMWU to attend to issues of safety in the municipality.

Umhlathuze Municipality was turned into ‘Wild West’ whereby everyone is carrying a gun without proper vetting and authorisation. Of lately everyone from politicians to management had VIP bodyguards. As workers we raised our concerns around this matter in vain. We told City leadership as to how much we are feeling unsafe and threatened by these guns inside working environment. These cries were justified by the fact that we had already lost 2 workers recently, that were killed inside municipal premises.

SAMWU is urging MEC for COGTA in KZN and SALGA to intervene in this matter. If municipal leadership wants to continue putting their lives at risk, it is okay with us, but we are refusing to put workers lives at risk. We shall request an urgent meeting with the MEC to map out a way forward for reopening on Tuesday 5th April 2024, post Easter Holidays. This meeting should come up with strict measures on how workers are going to be protected at their working space.

We are also calling for municipality to roll out employee wellness programmes to assist workers that are affected by this incident with counselling and other forms of therapy.

Furthermore, we express our condolences to the families of the deceased workers.
We are hoping that the leadership of the municipality shall assist you to the very end.

END

Issued by: SAMWU Secretariat

For more enquiries contact:
Cde Nokubonga Dinga,
SAMWU KZN Provincial Secretary,
083 375 9560

Cde Xolani Shinga,
Deputy Provincial Secretary,
069 159 7839