Buffalo City’s law enforcement officers took to the streets yesterday demanding allowances they say they are due.
Police officers from BCM’s public order policing and technical response units kept watch in Oxford Street outside the East London City Hall while law enforcement blocked off access.
Traffic was disrupted for almost four hours.
More than five traffic vehicles blockading Oxford and the corner of Argyle streets were towed away by municipal trucks.
Later, disgruntled workers visited the Trust Centre to meet with municipal manager Andile Fani and health and public safety general manager Steven Terwin.
It was not clear if the meeting had been scheduled.
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) regional secretary Zolani Ndlela yesterday said the union would comment after the meeting but he could not be reached late yesterday.
The regional manager of the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu), Cathi Botes, said her union did not take part in yesterday’s protest.
However, “approximately five of the participants are paid up Imatu members”, she said, adding that the union was engaging with affected members and could not comment further.
Questions were sent to the metro, but a response had not been received at the time of writing. Terwin could also not be reached for comment. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za