The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in Tshwane has threatened to use the 2026 local government elections to hold political parties accountable for refusing to pay outstanding salary increases of 3.5% and 5.4%. 

These increases, part of a collective wage agreement for the 2021/22 and 2023/2024 financial years, have been a point of contention between the union and the City of Tshwane.

The workers’ demands were aired on Wednesday during their march to Tshwane House, where they gave the city a seven-day ultimatum to respond.

The demands include implementing the outstanding salary increments and reinstating unfairly dismissed colleagues with immediate effect.

Samwu regional chairperson Lehlogonolo Maphatsoe accused the current administration, led by ActionSA, ANC, and EFF, of hypocrisy. 

He claimed they had previously lied to workers by demanding the reinstatement of dismissed workers and the implementation of salary increases when the DA-led administration was in power.

“It is now their time to implement and they are doing something else,” he said.

He urged workers to unite, stating that no political party in Tshwane truly represents their interests.

Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise, who received the workers’ memorandum of demands, said the city proposed a phased payment approach for the 3.5% salary increase to Samwu leadership, starting with junior staff, followed by middle staff, and finally senior staff, which the union reportedly agreed to. 

However, Maphatsoe denied this, saying the city executive offered once-off payments in two instalments scheduled for 2026 and 2027, which the union rejected.

“We want the 3.5% to be implemented into our normal salaries, not as a once-off payment,” he said.

Modise said the city will review the cases of 43 workers who were dismissed and consider rehiring those who were unfairly dismissed.

Workers complained that they didn’t have the tools of trade, but Modise countered that the municipality had procured at least 75 waste trucks.

With the 2026 local government elections approaching, Maphatsoe reminded workers of their voting power, warning that their collective action could impact the outcome.

“A political party that I will advise that you vote for is the political party that is prepared to pay our 3.5% increase and 5.4%,” he said.

The workers’ demands come after a May 9 Labour Court ruling, which referred the matter back to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council for a new hearing on the 3.5% wage increase after the city had initially sought an exemption from implementing it.

However, the same court ruled in favour of the city, exempting it from implementing a 5.4% salary increase for the 2023 financial year due to financial constraints. 

The unions are strongly opposing this decision and have announced plans to appeal the judgement.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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