At least 10 000 municipal workers are expected to converge at Johannesburg’s Beyers Naude Square on Monday to begin a three-day strike.
Police, meanwhile, report that there have been no disruptions.
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) spokesperson Dumisani Langa said strikers would gather at the square, situated near the provincial legislature, at 9am.
”Workers will be striking until 3pm,” Langa told the South African Press Association.
Police say there may be traffic backlogs and disruptions and have urged motorists to avoid the vicinity near Beyers Naude Square.
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said although many of their staffers would be on strike, they would have staff available.
”There will be some officers on duty. They will be strategically deployed and posted as best as possible,” he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said no strike incidents have been reported.
”A police fleet will monitor the strike throughout the day,” she said.
Langa said many vital city departments would be closed over the next three days.
While some departments would have skeleton staff, others would have none.
”Licensing offices, testing grounds, the city’s housing and planning departments, and all city call centres would all be closed,” he said.
He said essential-service workers such as the metro police, emergency workers and health workers would also be striking.
In the metro police department, 3 000 officers are expected to participate, Samwu said.
”Metro police would only have a staff of 472. In the health service, out of a total of 1 178 workers only 388 would be working. In the fire and emergency services department, 1 200 will go on strike and 322 will be at work,” Langa explained.
He said the entire staff compliment of the City Parks department would be on strike, except Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union members.
”We don’t expect any violence. We are responsible adults and have informed our members that the basic objective of this strike is not to destroy anything, our only aim is to withhold labour. It will be peaceful,” he said. – Sapa