SAMWU Slams Tshwane Councillors Over Salary Increase Amid Wage Disputes
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) has criticised City of Tshwane councillors for approving a salary increase for themselves while continuing to deny municipal workers wage adjustments.
At a special council meeting last week, all but one councillor voted in favour of a 5% increase to their salaries and benefits.
This comes despite the city’s earlier move to secure a court exemption from implementing agreed-upon worker wage increases of 3.5% in 2021 and 5.4% in 2023.
The municipality has consistently argued that it faces severe financial constraints and that raising employee salaries would cripple service delivery.
Union leaders say the decision highlights a double standard, accusing councillors of putting their own interests ahead of those of frontline staff who are struggling with rising living costs, unsafe working conditions and stagnant wages.
At a media briefing on Friday, SAMWU regional secretary Donald Monakhisi outlined the union’s demands.
These include the immediate reversal of the 5% salary hike for councillors until wage disputes are resolved, the reinstatement of 43 dismissed workers, and the implementation of salary increases for all municipal employees.
SAMWU has warned that it will intensify pressure on the city if its demands are not addressed.