A Dark Christmas for uMhlathuze Workers: SAMWU Demands an End to Unlawful Deductions and Inhumane Working Conditions

January 12, 2026 adminPress

25 December 2025

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the Shonamalanga Region strongly condemns the escalating financial abuse and systemic exploitation of employees at the uMhlathuze Municipality.

In November 2025, management unilaterally deducted employee salaries without consultation. Despite SAMWU successfully challenging this in court—resulting in a defeat for the Municipality and a punitive costs order—the employer has again targeted workers. In December 2025, management deducted salaries from Waste Section employees, an act we define as “economic violence.” While the Municipality faces severe internal challenges, management has dismally failed to resolve them, even as workers remain committed to service delivery.

The City of uMhlathuze continues to show contempt for its workforce, particularly frontline and field staff who have been without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for over two years. This is a blatant violation of the 2004 Council-Approved PPE Policy, specifically Clause 7.3.4, which mandates annual replacements within the first three months of the financial year. Employees are forced to perform dangerous duties without protection; some have even resorted to borrowing overalls from local industries. Field workers brave the blazing sun daily without sunscreen, hats, or drinking water—a clear sign of a ruthless employer that disregards the health and safety of its workforce.

Furthermore, employees are compelled to operate from dilapidated buildings, including the Civic Centre, which shows visible structural defects and non-functional elevators. SAMWU has formally requested that external structural engineers inspect the premises to provide safety assurance, especially following the tragic building collapse in Verulam. The employer’s refusal to act exposes staff to catastrophic risks. The City of uMhlathuze has effectively become a scene of normalized maladministration where public funds are mismanaged daily.

The treatment of field workers is equally inhumane. Staff are forced to work in remote, bushy areas without mobile ablution facilities—conduct that SAMWU deems degrading and inconsistent with constitutional values.

Over the past six months, workers across various departments have suffered “short pays” or zero payments, all effected without consent. Despite the Labour Court ordering the Municipality to redress these matters and pay legal costs, the employer’s arrogant posture persists. This ego-driven litigation wastes taxpayers’ money that should be used to improve service delivery for residents.

The City’s disregard for labour laws is further evidenced by its refusal to pay overtime to Waste Management employees, who are currently working tirelessly to keep the city clean during the festive season. Additionally, Electricity Department employees were unilaterally stripped of their meal allowances without justification. Since 2023, the Municipality has operated without an approved Exemption Certificate from the SALGBC, yet it continues to rob employees of millions in overtime by imposing capped rates that contradict collective agreements and an existing SALGBC Compliance Order.

Finally, SAMWU demands an end to ongoing unfair labour practices, including the exploitation of workers who have been acting in positions for over five years without allowances. We also condemn the corrupt recruitment of “Temporary Managers” who are imposed on the permanent workforce without transparent processes. These individuals often lack the qualifications and experience of the staff they supervise, violating the Council-Approved Recruitment Policy.

Issued by SAMWU Shonamalanga Region

Zandile Gumede
Regional Secretary
081 284 2591