Residents are familiar by now with the devastation that accompanies the South African Municipal Workers Union’s (SAMWU) annual strikes for higher wages.

Like their previous strikes, SAMWU members participate in this mass action on a no-work-no-pay basis. SAMWU’s strike in August was no exception. Yet it has come to light that those workers who participated in the strike once again received full pay from the Makhado Municipality.

The Makhado Municipality was asked to respond to this. Among the questions put to them was to confirm whether or not workers who had participated in the strike had received their full pay and, if so, when and why this decision was taken by Council.

Makhado municipal spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi responded to this by merely stating that they were “still consolidating the data regarding this matter, so we are going to effect and implement the no-work-no-pay policy to the letter at the end of October 2011.”

With regard to the lawlessness that normally accompanies these strikes, Bobodi was also asked to confirm whether the municipality had taken any disciplinary actions against SAMWU members. This relates to the August strike, during which 20 rowdy strikers were arrested on charges of public violence. In previous years, despite complaints from members of the public, no arrests were made. It was only when the police themselves came under attack from strikers on August 23 that the arrests were made.

“The matter is still with the police, and we are also continuing our investigation. We will issue a report in due course,” was Bobodi’s answer with regard to disciplinary action against union members.