Jo'burg's emergency services disrupted for strike

Members of the Johannesburg Emergency Management Services will go on strike, the city announced on Sunday.

City spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said “there might be disruptions to certain services such as ambulance and fire services,” when the protected strike begins on Monday.

Modingoane wanted to assure the public that the city would do all it could to maintain normal public services.

The strike was initiated by the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) after the union had levelled “a number of allegations” against the acting chief of the EMS, Tshepo Makola.

Samwu Johannesburg branch secretary Dumisani Langa said there were “various grievances against [Makola], like corruption, mismanagement and nepotism”.

Langa said that workers alleged Makola had claimed a R100 000 overtime bonus but senior management were not entitled to overtime and this was tantamount to corruption.

Modingoane said the city’s EMS had signed a Minimum Service Agreement with the union and “urged union leadership to ensure the agreement is honoured.

“Essential services such as water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal are not affected by the strike and will continue as normal,” he said.

Modingoane appealed to striking workers to recognise the rights of those who had elected to not to strike.

Samwu said about 700 workers would go on strike.—Sapa