Striking SAMWU workers accuse Joburg Water management of poor budgeting

Joburg Water has expressed regret that some of its employees are on strike while the city battles a significant water crisis.

Employees affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) are on day two of an unprotected strike over unpaid performance bonuses. They have accused the utility of failing to pay their bonuses in full.

Joburg Water’s Nondumiso Mabuza said, "The entity is engaging SAMWU to address the issues raised. As a contingency measure, the entity has implemented measures to respond to service delivery interruptions. Joburg Water urges all employees to act in compliance with the law and prioritise service delivery objectives."

Meanwhile, SAMWU regional secretary in Gauteng, Thobani Nkosi, has attributed the bonus shortfall to poor budgeting by management.

Nkosi has also rubbished claims that the city’s water crisis is caused by the workers’ strike. "The water crisis didn’t start on Friday and [is] purely because of poor management at Joburg Water, poor tools of trade at Joburg Water," Nkosi said. "These employees worked for this money; they deserve this money. So the question of water or no water—once we can agree, we sign down, then everybody goes back to work."