SAMWU GEARING UP FOR PROTECTED STRIKE ACTION IN UTHUKELA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
18 SEPTEMBER 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAMWU GEARING UP FOR PROTECTED STRIKE ACTION IN UTHUKELA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) will be embarking on a protected strike action in uThukela District Municipality, beginning in October 2025. This decision follows repeated unsuccessful attempts to address critical worker-related issues with the municipality’s management.
Since December 2022, SAMWU has engaged in industrial action including 1st and 8th of August 2025 to formally register our demands. However, management has consistently shown a dismissive and uncooperative attitude, even refusing to receive our memorandum of demands. Despite our persistent efforts to mediate the dispute, this impasse has continued, with senior management undermining bargaining agreements and municipal operations.
A dispute of mutual interest was declared with the Bargaining Council, which ruled on the 3rd of July 2025 in SAMWU’s favor, granting us picketing rights. We have since held briefings with our members and are now finalizing preparations for a legal strike. As part of this action, we will organize a march to hand over a memorandum to the Portfolio Chairperson for KZN CoGTA, the Speaker of the uThukela District Council, and the MEC for CoGTA.
We hope for a more cooperative response this time, given they previously ignored our invitations.
We embarked on a picket on 8 August 2025 and demanded decisive action within seven days, SAMWU is now mobilizing its members and the wider community to protect what little remains of the municipality. The culture of impunity must end, not only for the sake of workers but also for the residents who depend on these institutions for basic services. The crisis is no longer merely administrative; it is political, structural, and moral. It demands bold leadership and honest accountability.
We are aware of attempts by Municipal Manager Mr. L Jili and Cooperate Services General Manager Mr. OS Mnguni to instil fear and divisions among workers, but no amount of intimidation will deter SAMWU’s commitment to reclaim and defend bargaining rights.
SAMWU is deeply concerned by the termination of Section 139 (1) (B) intervention in the UThukela District Municipality. This intervention failed to address the root causes of the dysfuction, such as weak governance and financial crisis. Its termination raises serious questions about whether the municipality is truly on a path to sustainable recovery, or if it is now headed for a total collapse.
There has been a lack of transparent reporting from the provincial government, particularly from the KwaZulu Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional affairs (CoGTA) department, regarding the interventions progress and outcomes. This lack of accountability leads us to believe that the MEC for CoGTA, rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi, is simply playing a political game. We believe he is attempting to protect the interest of his political party, the IFP, by positioning it as a capable administrator of good governance as we approach local government elections.
It is public knowledge that the uThukela District Municipality has been operating with an unfunded budget for years and owes service providers nearly R1 billion in debt. It is no secret that the municipality has literally collapsed under IFP’s regime, with the provincial government consistently showing a lack of political will to address deep rooted issues.
Compounding this crisis is the reported decline in revenue collection, which has plummeted from 60% to an unsustainable 40%. This collapse, driven by poor service delivery, has eroded public trust and led residents to withhold payments. Insufficient revenue has strained operational budgets, leading to the misuse of capital grants for salaries instead of their intended infrastructure projects.
The rampant looting of public funds through nepotism and corruption has also contributed significantly to this loss of revenue. Instead of implementing corrective measures, the provincial government has terminated the Section 139 (1) (B) intervention without any assistance to help the municipality recover on its own. Recent press reports in relation to forensic investigations by SD Moloi and Associates alleges irregular procurement of security services for bodyguards, allegedly implicating the executive mayor, the Speaker, and other senior officials.
The municipality has failed to recoup public funds amounting to over R10 million spent on irregular security contracts, the question that arises from the union is what corrective and or disciplinary steps were taken in line with the recommendations of the forensic report, what actions have been initiated in terms of Section 32 of the MFMA to recoup unauthorized, irregular, or wasteful expenditure from the responsible officials or office bearers, has the matter been referred to law enforcement agencies, including the Special Investigating Unit?
Residents across the district are suffering from prolonged water shortages and endless sewer spillages, which have become a common occurrence. Despite all its failures, the municipality has been taken out of administration. We believe that the CoGTA department has simply allowed the municipality to descend into chaos, with no consequence management to hold individuals accountable.
To address this, we are launching a campaign to demand the removal of Municipal Manager Mr. Langelihle Jili, Cooperate Services General Manager Mr. Oxford Mnguni and Water Sanitation and Technical services General Manager Mr. Xolani Mthembu. We also demand the rescission of terminating the intervention. We will mobilize all relevant stakeholders, including:
– COSATU affiliates
– Ratepayers Associations
– The business sector
– Community-based organizations
– Student organisations
– Traditional leaders
As a revolutionary trade union, we are prepared to hold the bull by its horns. Enough is enough.
END.
Issued by: SAMWU
For inquiries
Jabulisile Mokoena, Regional Secretary (071 338 7460)
Mzwakhe Dladla, Regional Secretary (072 403 1798)