Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane
Photo by: Duane Daws
Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has called on the South African Municipal Workers Union and Rand Water to resolve their dispute amid a looming strike threatening to leave water taps in Gauteng and parts of Mpumalanga dry.
Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said Mokonyane had been in consultation with the two parties following Samwu’s notice to strike at Rand Water this week.
“Minister Mokonyane has implored Rand Water and the unions to work towards an amicable solution that will ensure no negative impact on all stakeholders and communities served by Rand Water,” Ratau said on Monday.
“The Minister further directed Rand Water to meet with other water services authorities to craft a joint intervention plan that will ensure minimal impact when the strike begins.”
Samwu has demanded a 10% increase for lowest paid workers, nine% for middle income workers and eight% for supervisors. It also demanded a 12% incentive bonus and R2 150 housing allowance across the board.
Rand Water revised its offer to a 7% wage increase from an initial 6%.
The union’s national collective bargaining officer, Chumani Gqeke, said the strike would affect water supply in Gauteng and some parts of Mpumalanga.
In July, Samwu announced that it had concluded wage agreements with three other water boards. These were Amatole Water in the Eastern Cape, Bloem Water in the Free State and water supply specialists, Water Solutions Southern Africa (WSSA) that supplies water and sanitation services to municipalities, industries and mines in southern African.