The recently council-approved five-year salary increment agreement for workers in the City of Tshwane will go a long way in cushioning their financial difficulties after the municipality previously pleaded poverty for not honouring collective wage agreements.
This was the sentiment shared by different political parties in the Tshwane council that also approved a resolution to implement the city’s collective agreement with workers unions.
According to a council report, the five-year salary agreement was concluded on September 6, 2024, under the auspices of the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC).
The report said: “The South African Local Government Association negotiates on behalf of the 257 municipalities in South Africa on salary increases for municipal employees, excluding section 55 and 56 employees, as described in the Municipal Systems Act no 32 of 2000.
“The negotiations are conducted with the two recognised trade unions in the local government sector, the South African Municipal Workers Union and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union.”
In Tshwane, the salary agreement will be implemented with effect from July 1, 2024, until June 30, 2029.
The council report said: “The Bargaining Council provided an increase of 4.5% for the first eight months of the financial year which amounts to R404 660 096.31. There is a further increase of 1.5% for the remaining four months of the financial year which amounts to R134 886 698. A once-off GAP Market Allowance amounting to R11 728 000 will be payable. The total amount is therefore R551 274 794 as per the SALGBC.”
ANC caucus leader Eugene Modise said salary increases would bring about a relief to workers who found it hard to afford basic necessities such as food, transportation and housing.
“The proposed salary adjustment will provide relief to individuals, enabling them to regain financial stability and enhance their quality of life,” he said.
He said the city must make sure that collective agreement is implemented before the end of October.
EFF chief whip Godwin Ratikwane said: “We, as the caring government that is incoming, will make sure that the city and the workers get everything that they deserve and that the workers’ rights are prioritised,” he said.
He accused the government under the DA of making sure workers didn’t get salary increases.
“Our solidarity with workers must be reaffirmed and our commitment to build the city’s values and uplift the residents’ lives,” he said.
Ratikwane said it was disheartening to see that the workers’ conditions had not significantly changed.
ActionSA councillor, Kgosietsile Kgosiemang, said it was his party that forced former DA mayor Cilliers Brink to consider increasing salaries of Tshwane employees.
“It became our first assignment when we joined government in 2021 to put a smile on the employees of our City,” he said.
Brink said the salary agreement was for five years, adding that the City had budgeted for it.
He said the ability to implement salary increases depended on the continuation of the City’s financial recovery efforts. “It is not a given that the City will afford it. It requires effort to build up our revenue value chain,” he added.
In response to Kgosiemang’s accusations against the DA mayor, he said: “It was not the executive mayor who decided not to pay employees but that was the resolution of council and it was part of the budget that he voted for. But then he didn’t have the courage to stand by his difficult decision.
“Why? Because he doesn’t believe in anything.”
Pretoria News
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za