City to file interdict against SAMWU in wake of violent strike action
The increased levels of violence and intimidation on the third day of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) strike have forced the City to resort to legal action. This afternoon the City will file an interdict application against SAMWU at the Labour Court, requiring that its members adhere to the following:
- Members must stop all acts of violence or intimidation related to the strike
- All staff engaged in designated essential services are required to return to work because they are not allowed to participate in strike action
- Members must adhere to standard strike, picketing and march rules
Today 4894 City staff or 19,4% of the City's workforce was absent from work without authorisation. This includes staff who intended to come to work, but were prevented from doing so by striking SAMWU members.
Service at the Ocean View, Masiphumele, Zakhele and Kuyasa clinics was disrupted yesterday, 16 August 2011, owing to incidents of intimidation by SAMWU members. Clients were directed to other nearby clinics and notices have been placed on the notice-boards at each clinic.
Unfortunately, the strike continues to have a significant impact on refuse collection - not only because the Solid Waste Management Department is short-staffed as a result of the strike, but because of violence and intimidation by striking workers.
Operations at the City's Wynberg, Muizenberg, Mitchells Plain and Klipfontein refuse depots have halted because striking workers have blocked the gates with builders' rubble or burning tyres. The City's Metro Police officers are working with the South African Police Services to patrol these areas. Service delivery has also been seriously affected in the Atlantic and southern suburbs, Kraaifontein and Khayelitsha districts.
Refuse has therefore not been collected in the following areas:
|
Atlantic collections area |
Bishops Court, Cape Town CBD, Claremont, Crawford, Dunoon, Factreton, Gardens, Harfield, Joe Slovo, Kensington, Kenwyn, Kenilworth, Langa, Lansdowne, Milnerton, Milnerton Ridge, Newlands, Observatory, Parklands, Pinelands, Rosebank, Rondebosch, Royal Ascot, Salt River, Sea Point, Summer Greens, Sunningdale, Sunridge, Sunset Beach, Tableview, Tamboerskloof, Thornton, Vredehoek, Woodstock |
|
Tierberg collections area |
Alicedale, Athlone, Athlone Industria, Belthorn, Bellville CBD, Bridgetown, Belgravia, Burgundy,De Uitsig, Elsies River, Glenlilly, Glenwood, Gleemoor, Goodwood, Hanover Park, Heideveld, Manenberg, Matroosfontein, Monte Vista, N1 City, Newfields Estate, Parow, Parow, Valley, Parow North, Parow East, Parow Trade, Parktown, Penlyn Estate, Plattekloof Glen, Rylands, Salberau, Sherwood Park, Silvertown, Sunnyside, Uitsig, Vygiekraal Village |
|
Impuma collections area |
Brackenfell, Belhar, Eerste River, Eerste River (Trade), Kraaifontein, Kuilsriver, Khayelitsha, Morgenster, Protea Heights, Scottsdene, Scottsville |
|
Two Oceans collections area |
Beacon Valley, Bergvliet, Crossroads, Gugulethu North, Eastridge, Gugulethu South, Grassy Park, KTC, Lentegeur, Lost City, Lotus River, Mandalay, Montclaire, Morgenster, Nyanga, Parkwood, Rocklands, Rondevlei, Strandfontein, Tafelsig, Wynberg |
The Solid Waste Management Department is scheduling additional refuse collection services over the weekend to try and clear the backlog. Businesses and residents are requested to leave their refuse bins out over the weekend, from 06:30 on Saturday morning, until they are collected.
If the refuse has not been collected by Sunday night, residents should please move their bins back inside their properties and place them out, together with any accumulation of bagged refuse, the following week on the scheduled day. In informal settlements, residents must please make use of the shipping containers placed throughout the area. The City will keep residents informed of the unfolding situation or amendments to this arrangement as required.
Residents are urged to assist the City during this time by not dumping waste and by not letting wet waste accumulate if not collected. The following drop-off sites will be open for domestic refuse on Mondays to Saturdays from 08:30 to 17:00 and on Sundays from 09:00 to 14:00:
|
Atlantis |
Dassenberg Road |
|
Belhar |
Adam Tas Road |
|
De Grendel |
Cnr 5th Ave and Bertie Genade St, Parow |
|
Delft |
Fabriek Street |
|
Gordon's Bay |
Sir Lowry's Pass Road |
|
Hout Bay |
Main Road, near Mandela Road |
|
Killarney |
Potsdam Road |
|
Kommetjie |
Kommetjie Road |
|
Ladies Mile |
Ladies Mile Road, Constantia |
|
Macassar |
Kramat Road |
|
Ravensmead |
Industrial Ring Road |
|
Retreat |
10th Avenue |
|
Schaapkraal |
Old Schaapkraal Road |
|
Sea Point |
Tramway Road |
|
Simon's Town |
Blue Waters Close |
|
Tygerdal |
Orange Street |
|
Welgelegen |
Akademie Street |
|
Wynberg |
Rosmead Avenue |
|
Woodstock |
Beach Road |
Drop-off facilities are also available at the following disposal facilities:
|
Athlone Transfer Station |
Off Bunga Drive |
|
Bellville South Landfill Site |
Off Sacks Circle |
|
Coastal Park Landfill Site |
Off Baden Powell Drive |
|
Kraaifontein Facility |
Cnr Maroela and Sandringham Roads |
|
Vissershok Landfill Site |
Off Frankdale Road |
For any queries regarding the drop-off facilities, residents can contact 021 442 8136.
The strike by members of the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) is still due to commence on Friday 19 August 2011.
Both strikes will run until wage negotiations with SALGA are finalised. SALGA has confirmed that it cannot afford to meet the demand of an 18% wage increase, and its offer of 6,08% still stands.
The City regrets the inconvenience during this difficult period and asks residents for their patience and cooperation to ensure that the city stays clean and safe in the weeks to come.
For any enquiries, residents can contact the City's Call Centre on 0860 103 089.
Statement issued by Alderman Demetri Qually, Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, City of Cape Town, August 17 2011
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