Sixteen City of Johannesburg workers affiliated with trade union SAMWU have been released on warning after they were arrested during a protest on Monday. The workers were not required to pay bail.

They were arrested during protests on the M1 Double-Decker Highway and made a brief appearance at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. They face charges of public violence and contravening the National Road Traffic Act.

Members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union came out in their numbers to support the 16 members who were arrested. They chanted songs and burnt incense or impepho in solidarity with their members. The state did not oppose bail for the 16 workers but proposed a R2 000 bail.

“This matter is postponed to the 3rd of December for further investigation. Accused one to 16 is released on warning and is warned to appear before this court on the 3rd of December.” says Magistrate Cameron Rooy.

Meanwhile, wage negotiations between the union and the City of Johannesburg remain in the spotlight. The workers took to the streets after the municipality allegedly failed to honour a wage agreement aimed at addressing salary scale disparities.

SAMWU is demanding that the City settle a wage agreement reportedly worth R5.2 billion, which was expected to be paid in July this year.

The amount forms part of a broader agreement valued at more than R10.3 billion, which was to be paid in instalments, but was flagged by National Treasury over affordability concerns.

“We met with CoGTA and the employer present. The employer decided not to shift from what they have offered us. We still maintained our position that we remain, that we are rejecting what you are offering us simply because it is an insult to us. And again, you are shifting from the initial agreements,” says SAMWU Regional Secretary Thobani Nkosi.

For now, it remains unclear if the protest action will continue.

Vide0: COJ workers protest over a wage dispute

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