Johannesburg - The Labour Court is expected to rule on
Friday whether a Pikitup strike that started last Thursday is protected.
In a newspaper advertisement, the City of Johannesburg said
it had brought an urgent application to declare the strike "unprotected"and
to restrain the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) from preventing members'
return to work.
However, Samwu said the strike would end as soon as the city
agreed to sign a proposal that Pikitup be investigated for corruption.
"We've also seen these ads and we cannot believe the levels the City of Joburg is stooping to just to justify the delaying tactics they are using," said Samwu spokesperson Tahir Sema.
He said the union did not want to delay the strike action because its workers were losing pay.
"The union did indicate to the City of Joburg... that we are available 24-hours to sign the document.
"But, someone somewhere high up does not want to hold the signing ceremony, because the moment the document is signed, the investigation (into alleged corruption, financial mismanagement and nepotism) will start."
The City of Johannesburg was not immediately available for
comment.
Since the strike started last Thursday, Pikitup managing director Zami Nkosi, board chairperson Phumla Radebe and several board members have resigned.
Refuse workers at the waste management agency went on strike last week, demanding, among other things, an internal investigation into allegations of corruption and irregular tenders.
The City of Johannesburg said the strike had been marred by reports of vandalism, intimidation and violence and the denial of residents' access to dumping sites.