Warwick Bruce Chapman

As ward councillor in Pinetown, KZN, I yesterday evening laid a charge against the local SAMWU shopstewards at the Pinetown SAPS for the damage striking Municipal workers had caused to two water meters in the Pinetown Civic Centre precinct. In addition, striking workers trashed the parking lots and streets around the Civic Centre area.

I attempted to lay a charge of intimidation on behalf of the members of staff who chose yesterday not to go on strike but were forced to stop work by a mob of strikers who came into the Civic Centre Offices and intimidated them. The SAPS require more details and witnesses for the intimidation charge to be laid but Municipal workers affected are too terrified to speak to me.

I have distributed letters around the office requesting employees provide me information via email, SMS or slipping it under my door in the Civic Centre. I am sure SAMWU will slip a dead fish under my door as a result.

Municipal Manager, Dr Mike Sutcliffe, has been made aware of the charge being laid and is in support of this action.

Today in Pinetown, striking municipal workers intimidated fellow employees who were not participating in the strike, damaged two water meters near the Pinetown Civic Hall and lay waste to the town by upturning dustbins.

I strongly condemn the actions of the striking workers who have broken the law several times today.  I have thus appealed to other municipal employees to disclose the names of those persons responsible for the damage and disruption today.  While I am aware employees are fearful of disclosing such information, I am making the opportunity available to them.  See the letter below in this regard.

I will immediately be attempting to lay a charge a charge against SAMWU and its shopstewards for the crimes committed.  The charges are outlined in the second letter below.

Striking Muncipal workers trashed parts of Pinetown during a protest march Tuesday morning.  Strikers were described by a bystanding business owner as agressive and confrontational and a metro policewoman confirmed that the strikers overturned dustbins on the course of their march and spread the litter across the streets.

While the DA supports the right of the workers to strike, we cannot accept the behaviour of the strikers during what should have been a peaceful march.

South Africa is entering a concerning period of potentially violent activism as the poor and unemployed struggle to survive in the face of deep recession.  We require strong leadership and austerity from the ANC to chart a course and set the example through these troubled times.

Cllr Warwick Chapman, Ward 18