14 SAMWU affiliates face court over a decade-old pay dispute
JOHANNESBURG — Fourteen people affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers’ Union are due in court on 28 October after a protest over a 2016 salary agreement spilled onto Johannesburg’s M1 highway. They face charges of inciting public violence following their arrests on 26 October, according to Eyewitness News.
The expected appearance at Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court comes as SAMWU members plan further demonstrations in support of their arrested colleagues. The dispute has brought the city’s outstanding commitments to workers into direct conflict with its ability to fund them, while disrupting travel through a major commuter route.
Workers challenge delayed payments
SAMWU says the politically facilitated agreement was intended to correct historic salary disparities and underpayment. Regional secretary Thobani Nkosi told SABC News that the accumulated amount was R10.3 billion, of which R1.2 billion had been paid. He said workers expected a further R5.2 billion in July, with the balance payable in July next year. These figures represent the union’s account of the agreement.
The union disputes a revised payment arrangement. Regional chairperson Lebohang Ndawo said the city had proposed paying R1.2 billion in April next year and spreading the remaining payments over another two to three years. SAMWU argues that this changes commitments already made to employees.
Mayor Dada Morero previously acknowledged the financial difficulty. In July, he told EWN that Johannesburg could not immediately afford the payment due that month and was negotiating a deferral, while maintaining that the city would honour the agreement. That earlier position explains the funding dispute but does not establish whether the latest proposed timetable has been accepted.
Court proceedings follow freeway blockade
Monday’s protest blocked both directions of the M1 near Smit Street in Braamfontein, including access ramps, prompting traffic diversions and police intervention.
Nkosi said the arrested workers did not appear on Tuesday because their docket arrived late. Their expected appearance on Wednesday concerns the alleged conduct surrounding the protest; it will not itself resolve the underlying payment dispute. The charges remain allegations, with no court finding against the 14 reported in the coverage reviewed.
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