SAMWU slams Tshwane councillors after voting for salary hikes

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) has slammed City of Tshwane councillors for voting to increase their salaries, while the city refuses to hike employee wages.

During a special council meeting last week, all but one councillor voted in favour of a motion increasing their salaries and benefits by 5%.

At the same time, earlier this year, the municipality successfully applied for an exemption to deviate from an agreement to increase worker salaries by 3.5%

in 2021 and 5.4% in 2023.

The municipality argued in court it was under financial strain and implementing the increases would paralyse service delivery.

Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, SAMWU regional secretary Donald Monakhisi said City of Tshwane councillors have shown they are self-serving.

“The resolution exposes the hypocrisy and blatant disregard for the sacrifices of frontline municipal employees who keep our communities running under difficult conditions. It's unacceptable that elected representatives have chosen to prioritize their own pockets, even as workers endure rising costs of living, unsafe working environments, and wage stagnation.”

Monakhisi said the union has communicated its demands to the city.

“SAMWU demands the immediate reversal of the 5% councillors’ salary increase until wage disputes are resolved. The urgent reinstatement of all 43 dismissed workers. The city urgently honours the salary increases of all municipal employees.”

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