Patchy municipal strike 'to intensify'

Johannesburg - Municipal services were expected to be interrupted as the wage strike entered its second day on Tuesday.

Members of the SA Municipal Workers' Union, (Samwu) went on strike on Monday, in a bid for an 18% increase.

The strike for the first time was not fully supported.

In Gauteng over 85% of union members boycotted the strike, citing corruption within provincial leadership, the SABC reported.

Samwu shopsteward in Brits in North West province, Jerry Mokwena, said the turnout on Monday was less than expected.

"Many people did not participate on the first day. We are going to sit with the strike committee to find ways to intensify the strike," he said.

Union members did not report for work, but stayed at home, he said.

In Cape Town workers banged on bins and made fires out of trash outside the city's council offices. Workers marched peacefully to the Bram Fischer building in Bloemfontein.

In Tshwane, only 17% of workers failed to report for duty.

Samwu members wanted an 18% pay hike or R2 000, whichever was greater.

The majority of the workers who reported for duty were those in the waste management division, Tshwane municipality spokesperson Pieter de Necker said in a statement.

Members wanted to renegotiate the 6% increase agreed to with the SA Local Government Association last year.