One worker was killed and three others injured at the Steve Tshwete local municipality’s head office in Middleburg, Mpumalanga, after they were allegedly shot by security guards employed by the council.
“Four people have been hospitalised after they were shot by security guards at the Steve Tshwete local municipality. The police are on the scene dealing with the situation. According to our information, employees were shot after forcing their way inside the municipal buildings,” said Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the police spokesperson.
This comes as striking workers are demanding that the suspension of their fellow workers who were suspended in July be lifted. The workers were suspended for allegedly inciting workers to embark on an illegal strike, provoking and being aggressive towards workers who didn’t want to participate in the strike among others.
Workers representative Sipho Masemola confirmed that one worker was killed and three others were injured.
“Upon my arrival I got one of them lying down in a pool of blood and the rest of them were taken to hospital according to the people that I got here. I’m told they are critical and one of them is not talking. I’m not sure if he is talking or not. We’re still assessing the situation. But they have been shot by the illegal security guards that the municipality has endorsed to the municipality,” says Masomela.
The municipality was intending to suspend about 100 employees who have been on strike since Monday last week, demanding a salary increase. They demanded their employment scale be upgraded to level five so that their salaries and benefits automatically improve.
In April, 13 employees were suspended by the municipality and charged for participating in an unprotected strike.
Source: SABC News, Times Live, South African Labour News, image from SABC News: Pixabay