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Cape Town - Nearly 24 years down the line, a number of former Midrand municipal workers who were controversially sacked after a strike in 1994, may be getting their jobs back as both general workers and drivers.
“It has been a long time, but this is a big first step,” said Stena Molapo, co-ordinator of the Midrand group that has maintained contact with one another over more than two decades, those in Johannesburg meeting almost every Sunday.
There are reportedly about 280 workers left of the 500 who downed tools in 1994.
On Tuesday a number of the surviving strikers will present their documents to the Johannesburg City Council, following discussions on re-employment. Vacancies for general workers and drivers will apparently be filled by the former strikers.
However, the group is still arguing that their treatment, along with the alleged withholding or misappropriation of pension monies, be investigated. “We feel that what happened to us was not just immoral, it was criminal. And we want to see justice,” said Molapo.
On Wednesday representatives of the workers will meet with investigators to provide what they say is documentary evidence of the fact that they were defrauded of benefits.
The Johannesburg City Council agreed in September to grant priority for jobs to the workers and the Financial Services Board has instituted an inquiry into the former Transvaal Municipal Retirement Fund and Joint Municipal Fund.
The workers have maintained throughout that the prime reason for their dismissal was that they demanded action against corrupt practices within the council at the time.
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