SAMWU vows to make Gauteng 'ungovernable' during upcoming G20 Summit

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) is threatening to make Gauteng "ungovernable" during the G20 Summit if some of its demands are not met.

The trade union held a media briefing today to express its unhappiness with the Tshwane council voting to increase the salaries of its councillors by five percent, while worker wages remain stagnant.

Among its several demands, the union wants the increases for councillors to be reversed.

For the first time ever, the G20 event is being held on the African continent.

The event will see heads of state, foreign ministers, and many other experts from across the world gather in the country for talks about global economics.

Johannesburg has been chosen as the host city, however, the metro cities of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni will also host ancillary G20 events.

READ: SAMWU slams Tshwane councillors after voting for salary hikes

SAMWU regional chairperson, Lehlohonolo Maphatsoe, said those who have been working hard to ensure the metros are ready for the event are not being appreciated.

"If they do not reverse the 5% salary increase that they resolved upon, in the presence of the provincial chair, there will be no G20 in Gauteng. We will mobilise more than 50,000 members of SAMWU in Tshwane. Actually, we are working on a build-up programme to ensure that Gauteng will be ungovernable. Gauteng will be ungovernable, there will be no G20 here in Gauteng, so that they know, workers, especially in Tshwane, do not enjoy a healthy relationship with the employer."

The G20 Leaders' Summit is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on November 22 - 23.

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