Workers in the Amatole district municipality in the Eastern Cape have suspended their strike. They reached an agreement with the municipality to increase wages by 6.2%. The week-long strike has adversely affected water supply services in various areas.
Workers say that their wages have not been increased for three years in a row. The municipality is experiencing financial difficulties due to financial mismanagement and poor management.
SAMWU’s Lonsa Lubhedu and IMATU’s Zanaxola Jack say the increase is a much-needed relief for workers.
“The COVID-19 risk allowance that will be paid to all employees as a one-off payment of 20,000 rand, which we believe will bring relief to the employee,” says Lubhedu.
“We had to meet the trio halfway because we knew the situation in the municipality, but we wanted someone to listen to us so badly,” says Jack.
Executive Mayor Aneli Ntsangani says they will work with staff to restore services.
“We need to work together to bring stability to Amathole. We would like to sincerely apologize to our communities for the service disruption they have experienced. The workers have committed to restore services from today,” says Ntsangani.
