Imminent deal after Johannesburg services strike
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi apologised to Johannesburg residents after a week of municipal service disruptions. Wage talks between the city and the municipal union are expected to conclude quickly, allowing work to resume and backlogged rubbish collections and water supplies to be restored, according to Sowetan.
The Gauteng government hopes to conclude an agreement within the next few hours between the Johannesburg municipality and the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), after a week-long strike disrupted waste collection and water distribution. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi apologised to residents on Sunday, according to Sowetan.
The action, triggered by a demand to implement salary resolutions dating from 2016, could cost the city 10 billion rands. Lesufi tasked Jacob Mamabolo, the provincial minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, with facilitating discussions with the municipality and the union. An agreement would allow workers to return to work and clear the service backlogs.
Water restrictions remained in force on Sunday in several parts of Johannesburg. Joburg Water reduced the volumes distributed and closed the inlets and outlets of several reservoirs in order to replenish storage levels. The situation extends the supply difficulties described in the week without water in Johannesburg.
