South Africa: UThukela council extends its deepest apologies to the community that built this region, as this community is facing the problem of water shortage. This comes after workers downed tools demanding overtime pay. It has been almost eight months since the notice was issued regarding the existing agreement to work twenty hours of overtime.
Yesterday, the Municipal Manager, Mr MB Mnguni, the general manager of Corporate Service Mr OS Mnguni, the Chief Financial Officer, Mr BB Sithole, the general manager of water Mr N Khuzwayo and the managers of the workers working at the water plants held a meeting at the council offices with the aim of coming up with a solution as the water is not coming out in many areas.
The workers and management then agreed that today the workers would return to work and praise the pumps. This follows workers’ downing tools as they complain about not being paid overtime. And the workers and management then agreed that the workers would work for twenty hours and be paid for work on Saturdays and Sundays as well as on holidays. The management has made it clear that if the workers do not return to work, they will be forced to hire other people.
It will be remembered that the workers previously worked for forty hours and then had overtime hours, which proved to be very damaging to the council financially. According to Mr Mnguni, the number of overtime hours per month was estimated at R3 million. 6, and making it very difficult for the council to continue working as the needs of the community are not going well.
This means that there is no money to buy new water pipes if they burst. It is expected that the community will start receiving water today until the next day. UThukela council expresses its deepest apologies to the community for the situation that has arisen.