MEC Lenah Miga on Sedibeng Water workers strike

North West Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC, Lenah Miga is appealing for calm in the ongoing labour dispute between Sedibeng Water employees affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and the water utility.

The dispute is now said to have taken a turn for the worst with striking employees accused of gutting pipes that are supposed to provide water to the residents. MEC Miga says government has been trying to ensure that the strike is contained to cut interruptions in the supply of water to the residents.

The employees of Sedibeng Water have been on an on and off industrial action from last month due to non payment of salaries. It has now emerged that the striking employees have taken matters into their own hands, and have started to vandalise water provision equipments, which has led to water provision stoppage in most parts of Mahikeng and surrounding areas.

“We were alerted to frantic social media messages doing the rounds of residents talking of how Sedibeng Water employees are involved in acts of vandalism, my view is that if you have a labour dispute with your employer, use all avenues that are within the confines of the law rather than resorting to damaging the infrastructure”, MEC Miga said.

Source: Government of South Africa