Samwu strikers rattled the doors outside a Buffalo City Metro special council meeting, causing panic inside.
And soon after, a union leader told the strikers they were calling in their thugs.
“We will now activate amaphara [thugs],” shouted BCM Samwu campaigns convener Zola Capucapu to about 300 strikers outside the city hall on Tuesday.
Earlier there had been intimidation and threats from angry striking Samwu municipal workers, but the BCM leaders put their heads down and carried on with business as usual at Tuesday’s special council meeting.
One of the issues meant to be discussed was the ongoing illegal strike. However, the item was shelved.
Hundreds of Samwu strikers tried to break into the city hall in an attempt to disrupt the meeting.
Their rowdy action came after it was learned that their demand for a R100,000 “apology” payout for each worker this month was not on the agenda.
The attempt by strikers to barge in happened when the councillors had started voting following the nominations of ANC councillor Mawethu Marata and DA councillor Darmesh Dhaya to fill the vacant position of council chief whip...