Durban - The Alfred Duma Local Municipality in Ladysmith said municipal security guards have locked municipal gates preventing access to several departments including Public Safety and Emergency Services for the past two days.
Municipal spokesperson Siyabonga Maphalala said the protest has prevented municipal employees from gaining access to department sites including the Public Participation Section, Operation Sukuma Sakhe, Public Safety and Emergency Services, Community Services and Technical and Infrastructure.
The municipality confirmed that a meeting was convened with the South African Municipal Workers' Union and the municipal security section immediately after their illegal closure of municipal access gates.
“Arising from the deliberations and engagements it was evident that the root cause of the wildcat strike was the fact that contracts of municipal security guards were terminated by the municipality as per their contractual agreement between the employer and the individual employee,” he said.
The municipal management added at the Bargaining Council there was a settlement agreement which the municipal administration is prepared to adhere to in respect of security supervisors.
However, Maphalala said the settlement agreement did not include access control officers, and their matter was dismissed.
“At this stage the municipality cannot engage further on this matter except through Labour Court (route) as chosen by the municipal security guards who were appointed on a contractual basis by the municipality,” he said.
He urged all staff to apply precautionary measures when performing their duties until the situation has returned to normal..
“Through the Municipal Code of Conduct an investigation and assessment will be conducted to determine perpetrators and those participating in the wildcat strike in solidarity with the municipal security guards,” said Maphalala.
The municipality said the SAPS had been deployed to monitor the situation.
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