Service Delivery Continues on First Day of Municipal Workers' Strike

On the first day of the municipal workers' strike, eight point seven percent (8.7%) of the City's total workforce were reported absent without leave. Therefore the total number of staff absent without authorisation was one thousand six hundred and forty three (1643) out of a total staff complement of nineteen thousand and seven (19007).

The Utility Services Directorate reported the highest number of staff members absent without leave, with nine hundred and seventeen (917) staff members out of a total workforce of five thousand one hundred and twenty four (5124), (17.9 percent) not arriving for work today. Utility Services includes Solid Waste, Electricity Services, Water and Sanitation.

Other Directorates that were most significantly impacted by the strike include Community Development, where three hundred and seventy one (371) employees out of a total of three thousand four hundred and seventy five (3475), (10.68 percent) were absent without permission, and Transport, Roads and Major Projects, where two hundred and sixty five (265) out of a workforce of one thousand two hundred and forty two (1242), (21.34 percent) were reported absent without permission.

All of the other Directorates reported unauthorised absenteeism levels of less than five percent (5%) today. Only six (6) out of one thousand four hundred and ninety two (1492) staff members of City Health services (0.40 percent) and 0.08 percent of Safety and Security staff were absent without permission today.

Unfortunately, the Goodwood, Bellville, Parow, Athlone and Bonteheuwel areas experienced delays in their refuse removal today due to the strike action and the City requests residents in these areas to leave their bins out until they are emptied.

The City requests residents in the rest of the city to please leave their wheelie bins out on their normal collection days this week. If the wheelie bin has not been emptied on the normal collection day, residents are requested to leave the wheelie bin out for the rest of the week, as the Solid Waste department will be catching up later in the week.

The principle of 'no work no remuneration' will apply to all municipal staff during the strike. Workers in services designated as essential may not go out on strike.

These designated services are:

• Municipal Health Services
• Traffic Services
• Metro Police
• Law Enforcement Services
• Fire and Emergency Services
• Provision of Water, Electricity and Sanitation
• Parts of Solid Waste (Disposal sites, collection of refuse left uncollected for 14 days or longer)

Residents can report any disruption in service delivery to the City's call centre on 0860 103 089. The call centre is operational from 07:00 to 21:00 (Monday to Friday); 08:00 - 14:00 (Saturday) and 09:00 - 13:00 (Sunday). In addition, the public should please report strike-related incidents such as damage caused by striking workers to the City's Metro Control Room on (021) 596 1999.

No major incidents have been reported as a result of the strike and there has been a minimal impact on services in the city.

The City's contingency plans to ensure minimal disruption of services will remain in place for as long as the strike continues. The City apologises to its residents for any disruptions caused. While the City respects the right of employees to strike, its first duty is to ensure service delivery to its residents.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town