Police fired teargas at members of the Buffalo City Metro coastal protection unit who were picketing outside the city hall over nonpayment issues on Tuesday.
The workers, beneficiaries of the Mkonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), have not received wages for eight months.
They were employed in March and April to protect the metro’s community halls and were paid for just one month.
Speaking on behalf of the group, So-good Xengxe said they were approached by the workers on Tuesday to find out when BCM would pay their wages.
“They came to the city hall in hopes of speaking to the mayor, speaker and chief whip about this matter, but were attended to by a very arrogant official who said the troika was held up in an ANC caucus,” Xengxe said.
“These workers started working in March and April, and some started doing this work in 2016. In May, when we came to inquire about payments, we were told the municipality didn’t have any money.
“No-one said the workers should stop conducting their duties, but months went by without them getting paid.”
Xengxe said in about July they submitted a memorandum of demands and were told they would get a response in 21 days, but this had not happened.
“We know the new council is in recess after the local government elections, but the leadership of the municipality knows about our issue. They know we are against the outsourcing of services when there are capable young black and local people who can do the job, and could be given permanent employment.”
He said since the members of the coastal protection unit started working there had been no vandalism of halls or places being used as havens for drug use.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said: “The events unfolding are very unfortunate as it is in the best interest of all the parties concerned to resolve this matter amicably.
“No amount of intimidation and violence will solve this, but rather will make matters worse. We call for calmness and for trust in the process.
“We are on record explaining the reasons the municipality is investigating this matter and thus payments will be resorted to once these are resolved.
“The latest is that this matter is in front of the courts and is also being handled by law enforcement agencies; internally, disciplinary processes are under way.”
As members sang revolutionary songs and carried placards that read “Stop starving the beneficiaries” police arrived to disperse the crowd.
Xengxe said: “A police minibus arrived, and officers [allegedly] manhandled women and subsequently fired teargas at a group who did nothing wrong other than demand answers from their employer.”
A member of the unit who did not want to be named, said as a mother of two she was suffering financially because of the nonpayment.
“Most of us here are breadwinners and without our wages the situation is very bad. I am in debt and fear my creditors will blacklist me if I continue not to pay.
“I have children and other family members I take care of, and they wonder how it is that, when I go to work every day, I do not return with money at the end of the month.
“The solution for this would be for BCM to permanently employ us so we can continue doing the work we have been doing diligently all this time, so we can feed our families.
“We won’t be able to buy school items on special for next year because we are broke and hungry.”
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.