SAMWU WELCOMES ELECTION OF DR. NASIPHI MOYA AS TSHWANE EXECUTIVE MAYOR, CALLS FOR TOUGH ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN.

For Immediate Release

9 October 2024

SAMWU WELCOMES ELECTION OF DR. NASIPHI MOYA AS TSHWANE EXECUTIVE MAYOR, CALLS FOR TOUGH ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN.

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) welcomes the election of Dr. Nasiphi Moya as the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane. Having previously served as Deputy Mayor under Cllr. Brink, Mayor Moya is no stranger to the executive leadership of this city. Her election heralds a long-overdue transformation that Tshwane’s workers and residents have been yearning for.

For far too long, under the now-ousted DA-led coalition, our city has been shackled by policies that perpetuated inequality and division. The workers and residents of Tshwane have borne the brunt of these inhumane conditions. The previous administration’s blatant prioritisation of affluent areas at the expense of predominantly black, marginalised communities is a stain on the conscience of this city. This neglect has deepened existing divides, leaving the most vulnerable without the essential services they desperately need.

For municipal workers, the election of Mayor Moya signals the dawn of a new chapter. Under the previous
administration, these workers who are the backbone of our city, were denied salary increases for two of the last three years. As we speak, many are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, trapped in a cycle of debt due to politically motivated decisions that showed a blatant disregard for their well-being. The DA-led coalition’s failure to honour legally binding salary increases has pushed many workers into financial ruin. The dismissals of workers who courageously stood up for their rights will forever mark a dark period in the history of Tshwane.

SAMWU will never forget the injustices suffered by the workers at the hands of this heartless administration. The scars of betrayal and financial hardship caused by the DA and its partners run deep. Yet, with Mayor Moya at the helm, we are hopeful for an opportunity to turn the page, to restore fairness, and to bring about much-needed change.

We urge the new leadership of Tshwane to take decisive action. SAMWU demands the immediate withdrawal of the City’s review application before the Labour Court concerning the 5.4% salary increase from 2023. Additionally, we call for the immediate payment of the 3.5% increase that was due to workers in 2021. These salary increases are not gifts; they are legally and contractually owed. The decision to withhold these increases was nothing more than political opportunism, as evidenced by DA leader John Steenhuisen’s own words: “If you are unable to tell SAMWU that there is no money for salary increases, you will have nothing to inherit.”

Furthermore, we demand the reinstatement of all workers unjustly dismissed by the DA-led administration. These dismissals were not only unlawful but also immoral. No worker should lose their job for demanding what is rightfully theirs—fair pay for their hard work. If this new administration truly cares for the people who keep this city running, it will not stand by while these workers remain jobless.

As SAMWU, we are committed to working hand in hand with the new leadership to restore Tshwane to its former glory—a city that serves all its residents, regardless of their economic standing. We look forward to rebuilding healthy employer-employee relations and contributing to a future where fairness, dignity, and respect guide the City’s leadership.

Issued by SAMWU Tshwane Region
Precious Theledi
Regional Secretary
072 601 8876