A small group of striking municipal workers slowly made its way to the Civic Centre in Braamfontein on Friday morning, where police again barred them a few metres from the entrance.
Holding placards reading ”Zuma protect us, we have been killed by the police” and ”Down with SAP [the police]”, the group of about 300 workers tried to revive the militant spirit that has marked the past few days.
The deputy chairperson of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union’s (Samwu) Johannesburg branch, Moatlhodi Mongale, said marchers would picket outside the centre.
Mongale was confident the protest would gain momentum, saying more members were arriving.
On Thursday, more than 50 protesting Samwu members were arrested at Beyers Naude Square and the Civic Centre after authorities declared the march illegal. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the crowd of about 2 000, causing them to disperse in different directions.
Uniformed police continued to chase marchers down Rissik and Loveday streets. Mongale said despite Thursday’s events, the union believes the three-day strike is successful.
”We are impressed with the strike. Metro buses are still not operating and municipal clinics are operating at half capacity.”
There has not been any refuse removal in the surrounding townships and no road maintenance work has been done.
Mongale said he was waiting for a full report from the union’s leadership, which would say whether the strike should be continued.
The workers are demanding a 9% increase while the South African Local Government Association is offering 6%, which Samwu has described as ”ridiculously low”.
On Friday, there was still a heavy police presence outside the Civic Centre. Metro police and the South African Police Service were monitoring the subdued demonstration. — Sapa