THE Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane has laid criminal charges against members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) at the Brooklyn Police Station on Friday, 18 August.
They laid criminal charges against the workers participating in the unlawful strike against the municipality. According to DA Tshwane caucus spokesman Kwena Moloto, this action is in response to serious allegations including sabotage, conspiracy to kidnap and intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He said some of the discussions went as far as to conspire to kidnap the Mayor Cilliers Brink's wife.
"A concerned whistle-blower has come forward and shared disturbing messages from a telegram group that includes known Samwu members used to discuss the unlawful strike. Messages on this group explicitly discuss and plan acts of sabotage aimed at disrupting vital municipal services and infrastructure," he said.
Moloto further said the discussions go even further and highlight the increasing prevalence of violent criminal behaviour.
"The urgency of addressing these threats cannot be overstated," said Moloto.
"On Saturday, 12 August a City of Tshwane employee was violently hijacked and shot at by a group of individuals who had earlier issued warnings against employees of the city going to work," he said. He said the male worker is recovering in hospital and they wished him a speedy recovery.
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He appealed to the police to examine the evidence provided and to respond swiftly to protect the lives of citizens and municipal employees.
"Attacks on waste trucks, the sabotaging of critical water infrastructure, the stoning of Tshwane vehicles, assaults and attempted murder of municipal employees and the burning of municipal depots have become common place amid the illegal Samwu strike."
He said the municipality lacks the funds to accommodate the additional R600 million that the proposed increases would contribute to the city's salary budget for the 2023/2024 financial year.
"We demand that Samwu’s leadership stop playing politics and put the well-being of their members and the city first," said Moloto.
He said the employee who was shot confirmed to them that he was intimidated and told by strikers not to work. Moloto said the employee told them the reason he was shot was that he refused to down tools.
Tshwane Caucus chairwoman Jacqui Uys said: "We were approached by a whistle-blower with evidence of lot conspiracies that have been happening by Samwu members."
Gauteng police spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said: "As per the case number you provided, that is an intimidation case. No one has been arrested."
