Orchestrated acts of destruction of Buffalo City Metro infrastructure continued unabated on Tuesday in the midst of one of the most violent Samwu strikes yet seen.
In almost every area of the metro there were water outages, smoking waste sites, wrecked transformers, broken glass, filth, and a loss of normality. Traffic lights were targeted for arson, smoke belched off the Beacon Bay refuse site and the beachfront was a disgusting mess.
When the Dispatch visited the CBD yesterday a robot at the corner of Union Street and Oxford Street sho wed signs of fire damage with its base clearly scorched. Trash in the gutters appeared burnt.
On Tuesday Samwu regional secretary Zolani Ndlela condemned the destruction of municipal property and blamed the destruction on “hooliganism”. He did not elaborate.
Ndlela promised an “indefinite strike”.
Executive mayor Xola Pakati’s spokesperson Luzuko Buku told the Dispatch that a meeting of the local labour forum would convene on Wednesday.
He claimed the city bosses and its workers were close to “finalising on the issues” driving the strike and the mayhem.
He hinted at a ruling party intervention comprising numerous meetings “with the unions at a political level”.
He confirmed the municipality was aware of “numerous acts of vandalism to public property and this is inclusive of some robots in East London CBD”.
“This is indeed an act of vandalism and criminality that the municipality strongly condemns. It is counter-productive as it goes against the essential logic of any workers action.”
He added: “Whilst we are comfortable that Samwu has distanced itself from such acts we find this to be insufficient. The union’s disapproval of such acts should be seen in action.”
Buku made it clear that the city leadership would not pass judgement on whether the vandalism was carried out by striking workers, emphasising that this was the duty of the police and courts.
However, it was “interesting that these acts of vandalism are taking place at the exact time of the strike”, he added.
Samwu’s Ndlela said: “As the union we are quite clear on the rules of engagement in relation to strike or mass action.
“However, it is true that we are preparing for an indefinite strike through CCMA; the matter has been scheduled for the November 28 at CMMA office at 11.30am. The upcoming strike is as a result of a deadlock between us as the union and the employer representative on the following issues.
“Failure of the employer to implement an agreement that was signed by all parties on 28 April 2016, which was facilitated by commissioners appointed by CMMA at the time. The agreement talks to the implementation of job evaluation that the first date of implementation is July 1 2017 but to date nothing has been implemented.
“Failure of the employer to pay bonus on salaries which was negotiated last year in March 2017 in the local labour forum.
“And there are many issues that the employer failed to deliver including the firing or resignation of the current city manager for non-compliance, inability to bring stability and hold administration accountable.
“As Samwu we are prepared to withhold the intention to go to blow-up strike [sic] once the employer comes to its senses in addressing our issues.”..