Tshwane to reinstate some dismissed municipal workers

The governing coalition in Tshwane committed to bringing back some of the workers who were fired for striking over unpaid salary increases.

In 2023, the capital city was almost brought to a standstill as workers went on strike and took to the streets against a decision by the municipality not to honour a 3.5% salary increase agreement.

On Thursday, the municipality announced it would start paying those backdated salary increases to all its employees.

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During the four-month protracted strike in 2023, the Tshwane Municipality fired over 40 workers for various offences.

At the time, the municipality was governed by a DA-led coalition, which did not waver in its refusal to implement the 3.5% salary increases, saying the municipality could not afford it at the time.

However, the municipality is now under a different coalition led by the African National Congress (ANC), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ActionSA.

Mayoral committee member and EFF regional chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu said the reinstating of dismissed workers was being looked at on a case-by-case basis.

“If we find a worker who was burning the infrastructure of the city, we can’t bring that person back because that person is a criminal, a hooligan... but if there is no evidence... those people should be back at work,” said Ramabodu.

The municipality said the backdated salary increases would be paid out to everyone who was in the city’s employ during the 2021/22 financial year.