The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Mpumalanga welcomes the reinstatement of more or less 15 workers in Dipaleseng Local Municipality. This follows the abrupt termination of contracts of the above stated employees by the municipality due to their demands for better working conditions, respect, and implementations of Local Labour Forum agreements.

Workers waited in vain for far too long, for the implementation of the agreement. This resulted in them expressing their displeasure through a protest action. The employer then retaliated by dismissing more than 14 of the aggrieved employees.

Following protracted intervention by the national offices of COSATU and SAMWU, with the Provincial Office Bearers(POBs) of the African National Congress(ANC), the dismissed workers have been reinstated to ensure that services are restored to full capacity.  

We call upon the management and political leadership of Dipaleseng to reconvene the LLF meeting so that all matters in dispute are resolved with immediate effect and restore labour peace.

Considering the above, COSATU and SAMWU encourage the two parties to go back to the negotiating table for the furtherance of labour peace and mutual understanding.