New SAMWU Tshwane Leadership Demands Immediate Action and Justice for Workers
9 December 2024
New SAMWU Tshwane Leadership Demands Immediate Action and Justice for Workers
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) Tshwane Region is pleased to announce the election of a new Regional Office Bearers (ROBs) following the successful conclusion of our Elective Regional Shop Steward Council on the 4 December 2024. This newly elected leadership is committed to spearheading the fight for justice, unity, and fairness for all municipal workers within the City of Tshwane.
One of the most pressing issues facing this leadership is the unlawful dismissal of 45 municipal workers, who were terminated merely for exercising their democratic right to demand what is rightfully theirs—payment of overdue salary increases. These workers, who stood courageously for the principles of justice and fairness, have been treated with utter contempt and victimised for speaking truth to power.
We categorically condemn the City of Tshwane’s actions and demand the immediate reinstatement of all 45 dismissed workers. These dismissals are not just an attack on the affected individuals but an attack on the collective rights of all workers. The City must understand that intimidation tactics will not silence SAMWU or its members. Instead, these actions only strengthen our resolve to fight for justice.
The new leadership will prioritise legal and organisational efforts to ensure these workers are reinstated without delay and that no worker is punished for standing up for their rights. The fight for these 45 workers is a fight for every municipal worker in Tshwane.
Over the next five years, the leadership will focus on:
Securing Unpaid Salaries: We will intensify efforts to hold the City accountable for the salary increases owed to workers, being the 3.5% and 5.4% from 2021 and 2023 respectively. As we await the outcome of the Labour Court on this matter, we will pursue the City to the last avenue available to us.
Reinstatement of Dismissed Workers: The unjust dismissal of 45 workers will not stand. This leadership will pursue every legal, organisational, and public pressure tactic to secure their reinstatement and ensure such victimisation is never repeated.
Unity and Worker Empowerment: We are committed to fostering greater solidarity among workers, recognising that unity is our strongest weapon against exploitation. We will strengthen platforms for worker engagement and build a more cohesive, empowered workforce and SAMWU membership.
Fighting Exploitation and Intimidation: The leadership will continue to expose and challenge all forms of worker exploitation and intimidation, holding the City accountable for its failures and misconduct. Importantly, this leadership will work towards the ending of outsourcing of municipal services in the City.
Strengthening Worker Representation: This leadership will enhance SAMWU’s collective bargaining capabilities, ensuring workers have strong representation at every negotiation table and that their voices are heard. One of our immediate tasks is to ensure that all recently elected Shop Stewards are given necessary training and capacitation so they are able to represent workers in disciplinary hearings.
A Message to the City of Tshwane: To the City’s leadership, let this serve as a warning: Your continued refusal to honour agreements, your blatant victimisation of workers, and your failure to respect municipal employees will not go unchallenged. This leadership will not rest until all workers in the City receive their 3.5% and 5.4% salary increases and the 45 dismissed workers are reinstated. Your attempts to divide and suppress workers will fail, as SAMWU stands united and unshaken.
The new leadership is ready and willing to meet with City of Tshwane management to address these pressing issues. We remain open to meaningful dialogue aimed at achieving fair and just resolutions. However, we emphasise that dialogue must result in concrete actions, not empty promises. The City must show its commitment to resolving the outstanding salary disputes, reinstating the dismissed workers, and restoring trust between management and the workforce.
A Message to SAMWU Members: To our members, your courage and resilience inspire us every day. We recognise the immense sacrifices you make and the challenges you face. This leadership is committed to fighting alongside you, listening to your concerns, and delivering results. We urge all members to remain united in this struggle. Together, we are stronger. Together, we will overcome. This fight is not just for unpaid salaries or reinstatement—it is for the dignity, respect, and justice that every municipal worker deserves.
Our Pledge: The new leadership of SAMWU Tshwane enters office with a clear mandate: to serve members with unwavering dedication, to build a stronger, fairer union, and to ensure that no injustice goes unchallenged. The road ahead will not be easy, but together, we will achieve victory.
We will fight for justice. We will fight for unity. Together, we will win.
Issued by SAMWU Tshwane Region
Donald Monakisi
Regional Secretary
(066 591 4548)
Or
Simon Leburu
Deputy Regional Secretary
(083 672 3944)